Alice Down the Rabbit Hole
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Recording of score of new Metta Theatre (UK) musical; P Burton-Morgan (book and lyrics) and Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics). Rob Madge, Lara Denning, Lem Knights, Dan Buckley, Grace Mouat, Alastair Brookshaw, Grace Davey, Parisa Shahmir, and Darcey Fryer. "Down the Rabbit Hole," "Running Out Of Time," "Paint It Red," "Find Your Wings," "What Next?," "Mad," "Off With His Head," "Delivery," "I Can't Do It All," "The Space In Between," "Pull Together," "Paint It Green," "Lara Denning, Grace Davey & Alistair Brookshaw," "Join the Dance." Mixed and mastered by Joe and Nikki Davision for Auburn Jam. Musical director Natalie Pound. Joe Davison plays keys, accordion, percussion, and additional programming; Nikki Davison plays electric guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, oboe, whistle and additional programming; Jessie May Sharp plays violin; John Gregson plays acoustic guitar and mandolin. Released 7/19/24. CenterStageRecords.com.

Allyson Briggs Sings Burt Bacharach
(Fleur Seule - new on CD/digital album)
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Trop'ns Fin Regen Oif Mein Kop (Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head)" (with Julie Benko), "What the World Needs Now Is Love," "One Less Bell to Answer," "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Uninvited Dream," "My Rock and Foundation," "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," "Wenn Ich Mir Was Wünschen Dürfte," "Casino Royale," "This Girl's In Love with You," "Promises, Promises," "Walk on By," "Alfie," "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "The Look of Love," "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," "That's What Friends Are For."

Brian Friel: Beginnings
(Four Courts Press - Paperback Book)
By Kelly Matthews. Based on newly discovered documents in the BBC and New Yorker archives, the book reveals Friel's youthful personality and his struggles to get noticed as a young writer. His correspondence with his first mentors - Belfast BBC radio producer Ronald Mason, New Yorker editor Roger Angell, and theatre director Tyrone Guthrie - shows how he shaped his early work, how he chose to write for the theatre, and how the patterns that became so memorable in his later plays were set in motion by his beginnings. 256 pages.

The Great Gatsby
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
OBC recording of score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen (book by Kait Kerrigan). Cast includes Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Noah J. Ricketts, Samantha Pauly, Sara Chase, John Zdrojeski, Paul Whitty, and Eric Anderson. Digital released 6/21/24.

I'm on My Way: Melinda Rose & Pianist Frenchy Romero
(new on CD/digital album)
Melinda Rose (vocals) and Frenchy Romero (piano), members of the Army Blues. "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "Once Upon a Summertime," "If It's Magic," "It Could Happen to You," "Don't Come Back," "I'd Do It All Again," "In My Own Little Corner (feat. Summer Camargo)," "I'm on My Way," "You Can Have Him," "It's Not You, It's Me." With bassist Vince Dupont, drummer Matt Wilson, and trumpeter Summer Camargo.

Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn: The Second Time Around
(PS Classics - new on CD/digital)
Jeff Harner updates his out-of-print 2001 release with six new tracks and guest vocalists Clint Holmes, MOIPEI and Nicole Zuraitis. "All the Way," "I'll Only Miss Him When I Think of Him," "Come Fly with Me" (with Nicole Zuraitis), "Love Is a Bore," "Teach Me Tonight," "The Second Time Around," "Bei Mir Bist du Schön," (with MOIPEI), "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Come Dance with Me/I Like to Lead When I Dance" (Clint Holmes), "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week) / I'll Walk Alone / It's Been a Long, Long Time," "Call Me Irresponsible," "My Kind of Town," "Blame My Absent-Minded Heart," "Be My Love," "I Should Care," "Time After Time." PSClassics.com.

Lifeline
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Concept album for score by Robin Hiley (Becky Hope-Palmer wrote the book for this musical about Alexander Fleming, the Scottish scientist whose discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine). Cast includes Aaron Lazar, Arielle Jacobs, Nathan Salstone, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Mia Gerachis. Released 7/26/24. CenterStageRecords.com

My First Book–Part 2
(New Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Second memoir by veteran motion picture, television and Broadway producer Julian Schlossberg. Je shares stories from his 60 years in show business including new profiles of working with Peter Falk, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, George C. Scott, John Cassavetes and many others. Released 6/4/24.

Natalie Jacob: Sooner or Later
(new digital album)
Jazz vocalist Natalie Jacob sings songs from The Great American Songbook and three bossa nova standards by Jobim. Scotty Barnhart on Trumpet, pianist Tamir Hendelman, guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, drummer Clayton Cameron, and percussionist Kevin Winard. "Exactly Like You," "Wave," "I Could Write a Book," "Smile," "East of the Sun," "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," "Corcovado," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Sooner or Later," "Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)." Arrangements by Barnhart and Hendelman. Produced by Scotty Barnhart.

Nick Cartell: A Thousand Spotlights
(Club44 Records - new on CD/digital)
Broadway actor-singer Nick Cartell (Jesus Christ Superstar, Scandalous: The Musical, Paramour, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables national tours). "Blue Skies," "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "It All Fades Away," "On the Street Where You Live," "Why Should I Worry?," "Never Enough," "You'll Be In My Heart," "Music of the Night," "Bring Him Home." Produced and orchestrated by Brian Eads and Wayne Haun.

Patti Lupone: A Life In Notes
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
"A Song for You," "Come On-a My House," "Summertime, Summertime," "Ebb Tide," "We Kiss in a Shadow / Teen Angel / Town Without Pity," "I Wish It So," "Some People," "Lilac Wine," "Alfie," "Saratoga Summer Song," "The Man That Got Away," "Those Were the Days," "On Broadway," "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina," "I Dreamed a Dream," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Stars," "Anything Goes," "I Didn’t Know What Time it Was," "Make You Feel My Love," "Ready to Begin Again (Manya’s Song)," "Forever Young," "In My Life / Those Were the Days." Music director Joseph Thalken on piano, Brad Phillips on strings. Conceived and directed by Scott Wittman. Produced by Michael Croiter. Executive produced by Patti LuPone, Van Dean and Staci Levine. Released 7/19/24. 2-CD set to be released 8/30/24.

The Stationmaster
(Auburn Jam Records - new album)
Score by Tim Connor (book by Susannah Pearse). Orchestrations by Jason Carr. Cast includes Nigel Richards, Alex Young, Jessica Sherman, Nicola Sloane, John Coates as Martin Cartwright, Kailun Dennie as Davey, Abiona Omonua as Mrs. Teasley, Rhys Jennings as Inspector/Joe/Judge/Ghost, and Adam Stickler. The musical debuted at Tristan Bates Theatre in 2015.

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
(new EP)
Score by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan (book by Kit Buchan). Eight tracks. The show was first produced first produced in 2019 in Ipswich and Northampton in 2019 and is playing now on the West End at the Criterion Theatre. Dujonna Gift and Sam Tutty.

The Wiz
(Immersive/Interscope - on CD)
2024 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Charlie Smalls (and others). Cast includes Nichelle Lewis, Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Melody A. Betts, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Avery Wilson. "Overture/Soon as I Get Home (Preprise)," "The Feeling We Once Had," "The Tornado," "He's the Wizard," "Soon as I Get Home," "You Can't Win," "Slide Some Oil to Me," "Mean Ole Lion," "Ease on Down the Road," "Be a Lion," "Meet the Wizard," "What Would I Do If I Could Feel," "We're Gonna Make It," "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News," "Wonder, Wonder Why," "Everybody Rejoice/Brand New Day," "Y'All Got It," "Ease on Down the Road (Reprise)," "Believe in Yourself," "Home." Digital version released previously.

Week of July 16, 2024

Appropriate/An Octoroon: Plays
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Two plays by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Revised edition. 260 pages.

The Notebook
(Atlantic Records - new on CD)
OBC recording of score by Ingrid Michaelson. Cast includes Maryann Plunkett, Dorian Harewood, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Jordan Tyson, John Cardoza, Andréa Burns, and Carson Stewart. "Time," "Dance With Me," "Carry You Home," "Blue Shutters," "I Paint," "Sadness and Joy," "Leave The Light On," "What Happens," "I Wanna Go Back," "If This Is Love," "Kiss Me," "Home," "We Have To Try," "Forever," "Iron In The Fridge," "Don't You Worry," "It's Not Easy," "My Days," "I Love You More," "I Know," "Coda." Digital released 4/19/24.

Say It with a Beautiful Song: The Art and Craft of the Great American Songbook
(Roman & Littlefield - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Michael Lasser and Harmon Greenblatt. Looks at the Great American Songbook's craft and its mastery through essential elements of the beloved songs, investigating the qualities that make the songbook a unique staple of American culture. With anecdotes, each chapter looks at a variety of songs thematically and dives into the lives of songwriters. 210 pages.

Teeth
(Yellow Sound Label - new digital album)
Playwrights Horizons cast recording of score by Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson. Courtney Bassett, Phoenix Best, Will Connolly, Jason Gotay, Jenna Rose Husli, Jared Loftin, Alyse Alan Louise, Steven Pasquale, Lexi Rhoades, Wren Rivera, Helen J Shen. Released 7/12/24.

Week of July 9, 2024

Judy Garland - The Alternate "Judy" Album
(HDTT - new on CD)
First release of never-before-heard alternate takes of songs on Judy Garland's 1956 Capitol album "Judy." Also included: complete restored soundtrack from the April 8, 1956, CBS special episode of "General Electric Theatre" series for the album release hosted by Ronald Reagan. From acetate discs. HighDefTapeTransfers.ca

Ladyship the Musical (Original Concept Recording)
(Whirligig Records - new digital album)
Score by Laura Good and Linda Good. Cast includes Maddie Shea Baldwin, Lisa Karlin, Savannah Frazier, Brandi Knox, Annie Sherman, and Trevor St. John-Gilbert, featuring Quentin Oliver Lee. Produced by Laura Good and Linda Good, mixed by Jakob Reinhardt. Bandcamp.com.

The Outsiders
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
2024 OBC recording of score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine (the book is by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine). Three tracks released early. Cast includes Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Daryl Tofa, Kevin William Paul, and Dan Berry. Released earlier in digital format

Parting Gift: The Songs of Gerald Ginsburg
(PS Classics - new on CD)
World Premiere recordings of lost treasures by composer Gerald Ginsburg (1932-2019). Two dozen musical settings of poetry by such luminaries as W. B. Yeats, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and E. E. Cummings. Shereen Ahmed, Mikaela Bennett, Philip Chaffin, Will Chase, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Adrienne Danrich, Jordan Donica, Colin Donnell, Telly Leung, Paul Lincoln, Patti Murin, Kelli O'Hara, Elena Shaddow, Nathaniel Stampley, Elizabeth Stanley, and Lauren Worsham. Orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick, Doug Besterman, Larry Hochman, Michael Starobin, Chris Jahnke, and John Baxindine, among others, and performed by an orchestra of 17 under the baton of Richard Carsey. Produced by Tommy Krasker and Bart Migal. Digital released 6/21/24. PSClassics.com.

Titanic
(Stage2View - new Blu-ray/DVD)
Filmed musical, with a score by Maury Yeston, that was shown in cinemas. Now streaming at BroadwayHD, to be available for global streaming 8/1/24, and released in physical format sometime in 2024 with Liberator Films and MVD Entertainment Group.

Week of July 2, 2024

Folk City: The Greenwich Village Musical
(JAY Records - new digital album)
Original studio album in DigiMix. Music by Ronnie D’Addario, Nick Lohri, Lili Añel, Paula Brion, Pat DiNizio, Tracy Nelson, Gary English, Morgan Mallory, Abby Dormer, George Papas, Robbie Woliver, Emma Woliver, Filippo De Laura. Lyrics by Robbie Woliver (book by Bernadette Contreras and Robbie Woliver). Vocals by Judah Frank, Morgan Mallory, Abby Dormer, Paula Brion, Emily Blount, R.O. Shapiro, George Papas, Pat DiNizio. 84-page booklet with liner notes, full lyrics, and scene descriptions, bios of the cast and songwriters, credits, 60+ photos and more. 30 tracks. Released 4/5/24. Pat Di Nizio Double CD expected in September. JAYRecords.com.

In Pieces: A New Musical Highlights Album
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Score by Joey Contreras. New release includes eight never-before released tracks, in addition to the 2021 cast recording.

A Sense of Theatre: The Untold Stories of the Creation of Britain's National Theatre
(Unicorn Publishing Group - Hardcover Book)
By Richard Pilbrow (British pioneer of stage lighting; appointed by Sir Laurence Olivier to help create the National Theatre of Great Britain as a member of the building committee). An eye-witness account of the birth and subsequent triumph of one of the world's most famous theatres. The theatre architecture has challenged generations of theatre makers, leading to innovation that has changed theatre worldwide. With insight from leading players in British theatre and the minutes of the deliberations between Sir Laurence, architect and leading theatre artists. 528 pages.

Schwartz Songs
(Westway Music - new on CD)
New recordings of songs by Stephen Schwartz. With Samantha Barks, Jamie Muscato, Lucie Jones, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Billy Luke Nevers, John Owen-Jones, Oliver Thompsett, Rob Houchen, Hiba Elchikhe, Alice Fearn, Rachel John, Peter Jöback And Emma Kingston. "Defying Gravity," "Corner of the Sky," "Ain't It Good," "On Wings of a Swan," "Colours of the Wind," "Let There Be," "The Wizard and I," "On the Willows," "Meadowlark," "Deliver Us," "Beautiful City," "Forgiveness Embrace," "Lost in the Wilderness," "Oh, Bless the Lord My Soul," "Children of the Wind," "When You Believe." Conceived and produced by Rhydian Roberts and Stephen Schwartz. Digital released 6/28/24.

Week of June 25, 2024

The Great Gatsby
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen (book by Kait Kerrigan). Cast includes Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Noah J. Ricketts, Samantha Pauly, Sara Chase, John Zdrojeski, Paul Whitty, and Eric Anderson. "Roaring On," "Absolute Rose," "New Money," "For Her," "Valley of Ashes," "Second-Hand Suit," "For Better or Worse," "The Met," "Only Tea," "My Green Light," "Shady," "Better Hold Tight," "Past is Catching Up to Me," "La Dee Dah With You," "Go," "Made to Last," "For Better or Worse (Reprise)," "One-Way Road," "God Sees Everything," "For Her (Reprise)," "New Money (Reprise)," "Beautiful Little Fool," "Made to Last," "For Better or Worse (Reprise)," "One-Way Road," "God Sees Everything," "For Her (Reprise)," "New Money (Reprise)," "Beautiful Little Fool," "Finale: Roaring On." CD to be released 8/2/24.

Jeremy Pope: Last Name Pope
(new EP)
Tony-nominated Jeremy Pope (Choir Boy, Ain't Too Proud) with six original songs. "U, Lost," "What I Gotta Do," "Want, U," "City2City," "Fine," "U, Lost (Prom Edition)." Written and produced by Jeremy Pope. Released 6/21/24.

Schwartz Songs
(Westway Music - new digital album)
New recordings of songs by Stephen Schwartz. With Samantha Barks, Jamie Muscato, Lucie Jones, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Billy Luke Nevers, John Owen-Jones, Oliver Thompsett, Rob Houchen, Hiba Elchikhe, Alice Fearn, Rachel John, Peter Jöback And Emma Kingston. "Defying Gravity," "Corner of the Sky," "Ain't It Good," "On Wings of a Swan," "Colours of the Wind," "Let There Be," "The Wizard and I," "On the Willows," "Meadowlark," "Deliver Us," "Beautiful City," "Forgiveness Embrace," "Lost in the Wilderness," "Oh, Bless the Lord My Soul," "Children of the Wind," "When You Believe." Conceived and produced by Rhydian Roberts and Stephen Schwartz. CD to be released 7/5/24.

Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Elizabeth T. Craft. Part of the Broadway Legacies series. In the first book on Cohan in fifty years, Craft situates Cohan as a central figure of his day. Examining his multifaceted contributions and the various sociocultural identities he came to embody, Craft shows how Cohan and his works indelibly shaped the American cultural landscape. 288 pages.

Week of June 18, 2024

The Connector
(Concord Theatricals - new album)
World premiere Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Jason Robert Brown (book by Jonathan Marc Sherman). Scott Bakula, Max Crumm, Hannah Cruz, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Danielle Lee Greaves, Mylinda Hull, Daniel Jenkins, Jessica Molaskey, Fergie Philippe, Eliseo Román, Ben Levi Ross, Ann Sanders, and Michael Winther. Spring 2024 release expected. Recorded week of 2/14/24 at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Produced by Jeffrey Lesser and Brown, who also serves as arranger, orchestrator, and pianist. Tom Murray is the music director and Kristy Norter is the music coordinator. The band includes Brown, Jamie Eblen, Hidayat Honari, Adam Kaufman, Randy Landau, and Todd Reynolds.

Don't Compromise Yourself: The Very Best of Mary Bridget Davies
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Mary Bridget Davies performs songs by Jerry Ragovoy for Janis Joplin and selections By TJ Armand And Mark Berman Inspired By Virginia Woolf. "Don't Compromise Yourself," "Stay with Me / Cry Baby," "Piece of My Heart," "Get It While You Can," "As Long as I Have You," "Getting In My Way," "Own," "Before The Afterglow," "Why," "End Of All Roads," "Oh, Mother," "You Must Make It," "Freedom Of My Mind," "As Long As I Have You," "Stay With Me," "The Right Of Way," "Don't Compromise Yourself," "Master Of Disguise," "Move Me No Mountain," "Getting In My Way." Recorded at Power Station NYC.

From The Back of the House: Memoir of a Broadway Theatre Manager
(Ibis Books - new Kindle Edition)
Memoir by Broadway theater manager Dan Landon. Spanning from 1978-2018, the book shares backstage and onstage stories of encounters with theatre luminaries such as Bob Fosse, Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, August Wilson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Madeline Kahn, Stephen Sondheim, Tom Stoppard, David Mamet, and more.

The Heart of Rock and Roll
(Joy Machine Records new digital album)
OBC recording of score from the new musical inspired by the songs of Huey Lewis and The News. Cast includes Corey Cott, McKenzie Kurtz, Josh Breckenridge, John Dossett, F. Michael Haynie, Zoe Jensen, Tamika Lawrence, Raymond J. Lee, John-Michael Lyles, Orville Mendoza, Billy Harrigan. "Overture/Bobby's Daydream," "Hip to Be Square," "Be Someone," "Don't Make Me Do It," "Workin' for a Livin'," "I Know What I Like," "It's All Right (Preprise)," "I Never Walk Alone/Finally Found a Home," "That's Not Me," "Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy)," "The Pitch," "Do You Believe in Love," "The Heart of Rock and Roll," "Entr'acte," "The Heart of Rock and Roll Band & Huey Lewis," "You Crack Me Up," "It's All Right," "I Want a New Drug," "Doing It All for My Baby," "Stuck With You," "It Hit Me Like a Hammer," "Back in Time," "The Only One," "Perfect World," "Be Someone (Reprise)," "If This Is It," "Giving It All up for Love," "The Power of Love." Mixed and engineered by Derik Lee. Mastered by Oscar Zambrano. Produced by Huey Lewis, Brian Usifer and Will Van Dyke with Hunter Arnold, Tyler Mitchell and Kayla Greenspan serving as Executive Producers.

Illinoise: A New Musical
(Nonesuch - new on CD)
Original cast recording of score by Sufjan Stevens (book by Justin Peck & Jackie Sibblies Drury). Arrangements and orchestrations by Timo Andres. 14-piece on-stage band: Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Christina Courtin, Sean Peter Forte, Domenica Fossati, Daniel Freedman, Kathy Halvorson, Nathan Koci, Eleonore Oppenheim, Brett Parnell, Brandon Ridenour, Kyra Sims, and Jessica Tsang. "Chicago (Reprise)" and "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!" now available. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Timo Andres, Nathan Koci, Garth MacAleavey, and executive produced by Orin Wolf and Nate Koch. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Dean Sharenow at Steel Cut Audio and Garth MacAleavey served as recording engineer. Digital released 5/31/24. Vinyl to be released 8/20/24.

Lempicka
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer. Eden Espinosa, George Abud, Amber Iman, Natalie Joy Johnson, Zoe Glick, Nathaniel Stampley, and Beth Leavel. Released 5/29/24. CD to be released 7/5/24.

Parting Gift: The Songs of Gerald Ginsburg
(PS Classics - new digital)
World Premiere recordings of lost treasures by composer Gerald Ginsburg (1932-2019). Two dozen musical settings of poetry by such luminaries as W. B. Yeats, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and E. E. Cummings. Shereen Ahmed, Mikaela Bennett, Philip Chaffin, Will Chase, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Adrienne Danrich, Jordan Donica, Colin Donnell, Telly Leung, Paul Lincoln, Patti Murin, Kelli O'Hara, Elena Shaddow, Nathaniel Stampley, Elizabeth Stanley, and Lauren Worsham. Orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick, Doug Besterman, Larry Hochman, Michael Starobin, Chris Jahnke, and John Baxindine, among others, and performed by an orchestra of 17 under the baton of Richard Carsey. Produced by Tommy Krasker and Bart Migal. PSClassics.com.

Week of June 11, 2024

Ballplayers on Stage: Baseball, Melodrama, and Theatrical Celebrity in the Deadball Era
(Univ of Tennessee Press - Hardcover Book)
By Travis Stern. Explores the relationship between professional baseball and professional theater in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Examines case studies of five representative players from baseball's pre–Babe Ruth “deadball” era: Cap Anson, Mike “King” Kelly, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, and Rube Waddell, with a concluding study of Babe Ruth himself. A historical study of baseball, theater, and the relationship between the two ... also shares insight into the creation of celebrity in early twentieth-century America. 248 pages.

On This Side of the World
(new digital album)
East West Players world premiere recording of score by Paulo K Tiról (book by Noam Shapiro). Steven-Adam Agdeppa, Zandi De Jesus, Michael C. Palma (2), Cassie Simone, Andrea Somera, Shaun Tuazon. BandCamp.com.

Stereophonic
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
OBC recording of score featuring original songs by Will Butler. Will Brill, Andrew R. Butler, Juliana Canfield, Eli Gelb, Tom Pecinka, Sarah Pidgeon, and Chris Stack. Produced by Playwrights Horizons. "Seven Roads," "Bright v1," "Masquerade," "Bright (Fast)," "Drive," "Champagne," "East of Eden," "Domino," It's made of teak, "In Your Arms," "BVs," "Exorcist II," "Campfire Masquerade," "Bright (Take 22)." Digital version released 5/10/24.

Then, Now and Next (Original London Cast Recording)
(new digital album)
Southwark Playhouse cast recording of score by Christopher J Orton and Jon Robyns. Tori Allen-Martin (4), Justin Brett, Alice Fearn (8), Peter Hannah, Joaquin Pedro Valdes.

The Wiz
(Immersive/Interscope - new album)
2024 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Charlie Smalls (and others). Cast includes Nichelle Lewis, Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Melody A. Betts, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Avery Wilson. "Overture/Soon as I Get Home (Preprise)," "The Feeling We Once Had," "The Tornado," "He's the Wizard," "Soon as I Get Home," "You Can't Win," "Slide Some Oil to Me," "Mean Ole Lion," "Ease on Down the Road," "Be a Lion," "Meet the Wizard," "What Would I Do If I Could Feel," "We're Gonna Make It," "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News," "Wonder, Wonder Why," "Everybody Rejoice/Brand New Day," "Y'All Got It," "Ease on Down the Road (Reprise)," "Believe in Yourself," "Home."

Weeks of May 28 - June 4, 2024

Antonio Adolfo: Love Cole Porter
(AAM Music - new digital album)
Brazilian pianist and composer Antonio Adolfo. Accompanied by Lula Galvao (guitar), Jorge Helder (double bass), Rafael Barata (drums), Dada Costa And Rafael Barata (percussion), Jesse Sadoc (trumpet, flugelhorn), Danilo Sinna (alto sax), Marcelo Martins (tenor and soprano sax, flute), And Rafael Rocha (trombone). "Easy to Love," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," "I Concentrate on You," "I Love You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Easy to Love," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," "I Concentrate on You," "I Love You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Just One of Those Things," "Love for Sale," "Night and Day," "So in Love," "You Do Something to Me.

Ben Platt: Honeymind
(Interscope - new on CD/digital/vinyl)
To include songs written with songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, and Alex Hope. "Right Kind Of Reckless," "All American Queen," "Andrew," "Before I Knew You," "Cherry On Top," "Treehouse," "Fear Of Missing Out," "Shoe To Drop," "Honeymind," "Home Of The Terrified," "Need You Like This," "Boy Who Hung The Moon," "Monsters." Executive producer Dave Cobb. Released 5/31/24.

The Colors of My Life: A Cy Coleman Songbook
(Club44 - new on CD/digial)
Vocalist Janis Siegel and pianist, arranger, and composer Yaron Gershovsky. "I've Got Your Number," "With Every Breath I Take," "Playboy's Theme," "Witchcraft," "That's My Style," "Being Without You," "The Best Is Yet to Come," "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life," "Why Try to Change Me Now," "The Colors of My Life."

Closer than Ever: The Unique Six-Decade Songwriting Partnership of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Joshua Rosenblum. Chronicles the sixty-six-year (and counting) partnership of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, with behind-the-scenes accounts of their musicals interspersed with analyses of standout individual numbers. 304 pages.

The Gospel According to Heather
(JAY Records - new on CD)
2023 Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Paul Gordon. Cast includes Lauren Elder, Badia Farha, Maria Habeeb, Jeremy Kushnier, Maya Lagerstam, Zach Rand, Katey Sagal, Carson Stewart, Brittany Nicole Williams, and Wayne Wilson. "My Name Is Heather Krebs," "The Weight of My Burden," "Wait," "Risen," "Conventional," "Don't Go Spreading Rumours," "The Healing," "Reckoning," "St Heather," "Just a GirlBreaking News," "She Has on Sneakers," "Up All Night," "Spread a Little Light," "Don't Tell Mom," "My Name is Heather Kreb (Reprise)," "Penny In My Pocket," "Raise Your Hand," "Raise Your Hand (reprise)." Produced by John Yap. Digital released 2/16/24.

Hell's Kitchen
(Alicia Keys Records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Alicia Keys (book by Kristoffer Diaz). Cast includes Maleah Joi Moon, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Chris Lee, Kecia Lewis.

Illinoise: A New Musical
(Nonesuch - new digital album)
Original cast recording of score by Sufjan Stevens (book by Justin Peck & Jackie Sibblies Drury). Arrangements and orchestrations by Timo Andres. 14-piece on-stage band: Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Christina Courtin, Sean Peter Forte, Domenica Fossati, Daniel Freedman, Kathy Halvorson, Nathan Koci, Eleonore Oppenheim, Brett Parnell, Brandon Ridenour, Kyra Sims, and Jessica Tsang. "Chicago (Reprise)" and "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!" now available. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Timo Andres, Nathan Koci, Garth MacAleavey, and executive produced by Orin Wolf and Nate Koch. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Dean Sharenow at Steel Cut Audio and Garth MacAleavey served as recording engineer. Released 5/31/24.

Jocelyn Bioh: Three Plays: Merry Wives; Nollywood Dreams; School Girls, Or, The African Mean Girls Play
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
First collection of plays from American contemporary playwright Jocelyn Bioh. 216 pages. Released 5/30/24.

Mike Bartlett
(Routledge - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By William C. Boles. Routledge Modern and Contemporary Dramatists series editors Maggie Gale and Graham Saunders. Includes Barlett's plays Cock, Doctor Foster, King Charles III, and Albion, a biographical introductory chapter, and new interviews with Bartlett and some of his closest and oft relied upon collaborators. 186 pages.

My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
(Concord Recordings - new on 2 CDs/Digital)
Live Concert recording. Released at the time of the condensed version of the filmed concert premiere on PBS "Great Performances." Cast includes Joanna Ampil, Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Lucy St. Louis, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace, Patrick Wilson. 40-piece Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert Orchestra conducted by music supervisor Simon Lee. 42 tracks. Released 5/31/24.

My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
(Liberator Films - new on Blu-ray/DVD)
Concert filmed at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with songs from The Sound of Music, Carousel, South Pacific, and Oklahoma! Starring Joanna Ampil, Michael Ball, Maria Friedman, Daniel Dae Kim, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Lucy St. Louis, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace and Patrick Wilson and featuring a 40-piece orchestra. Two hours.

Rarities from the Hollywood Studios 1933-1958
(Sepia Records - new on 2 CDs)
Previously unavailable tracks taken from studio playback and movie exploitation discs or alternative versions from 1933 to 1958, spanning 25 years of Bing Crosby's career. 30 tracks.

Suffs
(Atlantic Records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Shaina Taub. Jenna Bainbridge, Kim Blanck, Ally Bonino, Tsilala Brock, Jenn Colella, Dana Costello, Hannah Cruz, Nadia Dandashi, Laila Erica Drew, Nikki M. James, Jaygee Macapugay, Anastacia McCleskey, Grace McLean, Monica Tulia Ramirez, Emily Skinner, Shaina Taub, and Ada Westfall.

Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger
(new digital album)

Concept album for Cincinnati, Ohio, Fringe Festival award winning musical with score by John Woods, Stephen Goers, Roz Mihalko, and Jenn Howd. "Sex Toys & Texas," "Dildos Are the Devil's Tools," "Swallow Your Destiny," "The Moan Ranger," "Learn to Love Yourself," "The Power of Pleasure," "Every BODY Is Divine," "The Second Coming."

Week of May 21, 2024

Christopher Oscar Peña: Three Plays: How To Make An American Son; The Strangers; A Cautionary Tail
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
Edited by Mark Armstrong. Introduced by Hugh Dancy. The work of Latinx American playwright and screenwriter Christopher Oscar Peña. 456 pages.

Clyde's
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback book/Kindle)
Play by Lynn Nottage. 96 pages.

The Group Theatre: An Enduring Legacy
(McFarland - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Mark Connelly. Examines the history and influence of the Group Theatre, which presented the first plays of Clifford Odets, Sidney Kingsley, and William Saroyan, and launched the careers of Franchot Tone, John Garfield, Elia Kazan, Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, Martin Ritt, and Luther Adler. 339 pages.

How to Find, Choose, and Prepare Successful Audition
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Adam Wachter. Foreword by Rachel Hoffman. Afterword by Caissie Levy. Takes the reader step-by-step through the process of building your audition repertoire portfolio ... helps to identify what songs are needed in which categories and explains where to find them, how to source and cut the sheet music, and how to communicate effectively with the accompanist and act the song. 184 pages.

The Outsiders
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
2024 OBC recording of score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine (the book is by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine). Three tracks released early. Cast includes Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Daryl Tofa, Kevin William Paul, and Dan Berry. CD to be released June 28.

Tom Ball: Curtain Call
(Westway Music - new on CD)
Debut album from former Britain's Got Talent and "America's Got Talent" star Tom Ball. "Intro," "Writing's on the Wall," "Feeling Good," "The Best Part," "Stand By Me ft The Inner Voices," "Bring Him Home," "Goodbye ft Lucie Jones," "Let Me Live," "Can't Help Falling In Love," "Seize The Day," "Winter Song," "Home Again," "I (Who Have Nothing)."

Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television, and the Movies
(Viva Editions - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Jerry Adler. The author recounts his career as a theater director, producer and actor that has spanned over 70 years. 240 pages.

Week of May 14, 2024

Becky Nurse of Salem: A Contemporary Comedy About a Historical Tragedy
(Theatre Communications Group - new Paperback Book)
Play by Sarah Ruhl. Played at Lincoln Center Theater in the fall of 2022. 112 pages.

Days of Wine and Roses
(Nonesuch - new on CD)
Original Off-Broadway (and Broadway) cast recording of score by Adam Guettel (book by Craig Lucas). Sharon Catherine Brown, Bill English, Olivia Hernandez, Brian d'Arcy James, Byron Jennings, David Jennings, Ted Koch, Ella Dane Morgan, Kelli O'Hara. "There Go I," "Evanesce," "Sammen I Himmeln," "As The Water Loves The Stone," "Are You Blue," "Underdeath," "First Breath," "435," "Morton Salt Girl," "Forgiveness," "Turlycue," "Forgiveness (Reprise)," "Lila Hangs The Moon," "There Go I (Reprise)." Recorded week of 7/24/23. Digital released 12/15/23.

FREE: Words on Music by a Hi-Def Critic in an MP3 World
(Bear Manor Media - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Lawrence Schulman ("Garland: That’s Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland"). Foreword by Tish Oney. Afterword by Manuel Betancourt. Schulman's writings between 2000 and 2024, on a whole host of artists and authors, including Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Mildred Bailey, Patsy Cline, Bernard Herrmann, among others. 540 pages.

Gutenberg! The Musical!
(Center Stage Records/Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
OBC recording of score by Scott Brown (music/lyrics) and Anthony King (lyrics). Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Recorded 1/29/24. Arrangements, and orchestrations are by T.O. Sterrett. Produced and mixed by Michael Croiter. BroadwayRecords.com. Digital released 5/3/24

Here We Are
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - on CD/digital)
Score by Stephen Sondheim (book by David Ives). Cast includes Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O'Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos. "Exit Music" now available. Recorded week of January 10, 2024. Produced by Sean Patrick Flahaven and Bill Rosenfield. 2-LP, 180g baby blue vinyl due on September 6.

Pulman & Stilgoe: A Couple of Swells
(new digital album)
Based on Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe's live act. "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "Harmony," "People Will Say We're in Love/If I Loved You," "That Was Then," "I Had Myself a True Love," "Mountain Greenery," "Close Your Eyes," "The Folks Who Live On the Hill," "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring," "Some Other Time."

Water for Elephants
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by PigPen Theatre Co. (book by Rick Elice). Two singles, "Wild" and "Silver Stars," now available. Cast includes Grant Gustin, Isabelle McCalla, Gregg Edelman, Paul Alexander Nolan, Stan Brown, Joe De Paul, Sara Gettelfinger, and Wade McCollum. Produced by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Ian Kagey. "Anywhere/Another Train," "The Road Don't Make You Young," "Easy," "The Lion Has Got No Teeth," "I Choose The Ride," "Ode To An Elephant," "Just Our Luck," "I Shouldn't Be Surprised," "Silver Stars," "The Grand Spec," "Funny Angel," "Zostan," "Squeaky Wheel," "You've Got Nothing, Pt. 1," "You've Got Nothing, Pt. 2," "What Do You Do?," "Wild," "Go Home," "Finale (I Choose The Ride)."

Week of May 7, 2024

An Actor Convalescing in Devon
(Faber & Faber - Kindle Edition)
Play by Richard Nelson, which opened at Hampstead Theatre, London, in March 2024.

Ann Kittredge: Romantic Notions
(Jazzheads - new on CD/digital)
Singer Ann Kittredge's second album. "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "I Feel the Earth Move," "Mr. Tambourine Man," "You're My Home," "I Just Want to Dance with You," "Where've You Been," "Garden 2," "Together, Wherever We Go," "I Just Wanted You to Know," "There You Are," "Didn't We," "Romantic Notions." Accompanied by Tom Kochan, Christopher Denny, Alex Rybeck, Sean Harkness, Mary Ann McSweeney, Rex Benincasa, Aaron Heick, Yoed Nir, Gary Oleyar. Produced by Paul Rolnick. Liner notes by Will Friedwald.

On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Kevin Winkler. Traces the early development of Midler's performing ethos from New York's downtown experimental theater scene and examines her impact across media, with chapters on the soaring highs (and occasional cringe-worthy lows) of her stage work, movies, recordings, and television appearances, and considers her influence as an environmental activist and social media presence. Features performance analysis and deeply researched background information, all supporting informed - and divinely opinionated - consideration of Midler the artist. 224 pages. Appears to be available ahead of publication date.

Peerless: Rouben Mamoulian, Hollywood, and Broadway
(Univ of Wisconsin Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Kurt Jensen. Rouben Mamoulian, director of the original stage productions of Porgy and Bess, Carousel, and Oklahoma!, as well as films including Love Me Tonight, Queen Christina, City Streets, and Silk Stockings. Famously fired from the film version of Porgy and Bess in a dispute over publicity and quit Cleopatra after arguments over a single scene. Drawing upon Mamoulian's unfinished memoir and diaries, as well as interviews with surviving collaborators. Also explores Mamoulian's aesthetic principles and strategies as manifested in lighting, choreography, and sound design. 376 pages.

Stereophonic
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
OBC recording of score featuring original songs by Will Butler. Will Brill, Andrew R. Butler, Juliana Canfield, Eli Gelb, Tom Pecinka, Sarah Pidgeon, and Chris Stack. Produced by Playwrights Horizons.

Week of April 30, 2024

Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared
(new on CD/vinyl)
From the live show. Songs made famous by jazz canaries once they spread their wings - that's Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. Champian Fulton, Jane Monheit, Carmen Bradford, Olivia Chindamo, Vanessa Perea, and Gretje Angell. Liner notes by Ricky Ricardi.

Gutenberg! The Musical!
(Center Stage Records/Yellow Sound Label - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Scott Brown (music/lyrics) and Anthony King (lyrics). Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Recorded 1/29/24. Arrangements, and orchestrations are by T.O. Sterrett. Produced and mixed by Michael Croiter. BroadwayRecords.com. CD to be released 5/17/24.

Theatre Work: Reimagining the Labor of Theatrical Production
(Focal Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Brídín Clements Cotton and Natalie Robin. "investigates both the history and current realities of life and work in professional theatrical production in the United States and explores labor practices that are equitable, accessible, and sustainable." 352 pages.

Week of April 23, 2024

Ageless Dancers
(Overhead Press - Hardcover Book)
Photographs by Betti Franceschi, from her collection of photographs of dancers age 70 and up. Forty iconic dancers from the disciplines of ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and musical theater. 130 pages. Brilliant-Editions.com.

The Notebook
(Atlantic Records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Ingrid Michaelson. Cast includes Maryann Plunkett, Dorian Harewood, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Jordan Tyson, John Cardoza, Andréa Burns, and Carson Stewart. "Time," "Dance With Me," "Carry You Home," "Blue Shutters," "I Paint," "Sadness and Joy," "Leave The Light On," "What Happens," "I Wanna Go Back," "If This Is Love," "Kiss Me," "Home," "We Have To Try," "Forever," "Iron In The Fridge," "Don't You Worry," "It's Not Easy," "My Days," "I Love You More," "I Know," "Coda." Released 4/19/24. CD to be released 7/19/24.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent
(St. Martin's Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea. Judi Dench opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career in a series of intimate conversations with actor and director Brendan O'Hea. Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes. Previously released in paperback.

Song of the Season: Outstanding Broadway Songs since 1891
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas Hischak. Charts the progress of American showtunes alongside popular music forms as songs evolved from the waltz and ragtime to jazz, rock, rap and hip-hop. Factual analysis and historical context combine to offer a rich picture of the American songbook from Irving Berlin to Elton John. 440 pages.

Steve Lawrence: Winners! / Come Waltz with Me
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Steve Lawrence's first two albums on Columbia: "Winners!" and "Come Waltz With Me" plus bonus tracks, including the Steve Lawrence composed "If You Love Her Tell Her So" on CD for the first time. 26 tracks. SepiaRecords.com.

Week of April 16, 2024

Affective Memories: How Chance and the Theater Saved My Life
(Sunbury Press, Inc. - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Autobiography by Laurence Luckinbill. "This is the riveting, brutally honest story of a man’s struggle to make something of himself in the theater. Coming from meager circumstances in the Ozark Mountains, he fights his way up the shaky ladder toward fame. He makes mistakes, goes down blind alleys, fails and succeeds, again and again. But he never quits." 480 pages.

Don't Forget Us: A Chekhovian Song Cycle
(new digital album)
Concept album for score by Permanent Moves members Shane Chapman and Julia Sirna-Frest. Shane Chapman, Julia Sirna-Frest, Chris Giarmo, Jessie Shelton, Karl Blau, and Starr Busby.

The Great Gatsby: The 1926 Broadway Script
(Cambridge Univ Press - new Hardcover Book)
James L. W. West III and Anne Margaret Daniel, editors. Script for Owen Davis' adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The show played the Ambassador Theatre in 1926. Photographs of the original sets and actors, reviews. 150 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of schedule.]

The Irish Repertory Theatre: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway
(Palgrave Macmillan - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Maria Szasz. History of the multi-award winning Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theatre Company, from its beginning in 1988 to its thirty-fifth season in 2023. Considers how the Irish Rep's plays and musicals reflect the Irish diaspora, the relationship between Ireland and America, and what it means to be Irish and Irish American, both historically, and in the twenty-first century. 185 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of schedule.]

The Tony Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Theatre
(Black Dog & Leventhal - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Coffee table book by Eila Mell and The American Theatre Wing. Foreword by Audra McDonald. Commemorating over 75 years of Broadway greatness with never-before told stories, rare photos from the American Theatre Wing's archives, and more than 100 interviews with past and present Tony winners, including actors, producers, writers, and costume designers. 400+ color and black-and-white photographs. 320 pages.

Week of April 9, 2024

Dancing on the Edge: A Journey of Living, Loving, and Tumbling through Hollywood
(Blackstone Publishing - new Hardcover/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By Russ Tamblyn. Tamblyn writes about his career and his personal life. 360 pages.

Dreams of Dracula: The Immersive Show
(new digital album)
Off-Broadway cast recording, music by Dian Shuai.

The Shining
(Pentatone - new 2-CD set/digital)
Lyric Opera of Kansas City recording of Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell's opera based on the novel by Stephen King. Conductor Gerard Schwarz. Cast includes Edward Parks. Apparently moved from April 5.

Week of April 2, 2024

The American Musical: Evolution of an Art Form
(Routledge - new Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Ben West. A portrait of the American musical's artistic evolution over the course of seven distinct, newly defined eras, with a perspective gleaned from research at more than twenty different archives across the United States. 416 pages.

Broadway Melody
(Benzinger & Frank - new Kindle Edition)
Novel by Jack Viertel. "A show business romance crossing 7000 miles and 70 years..."

To Repair the World: Zelda Fichandler and the Transformation of American Theater
(Routledge - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Mary B. Robinson. Biography in the form of an oral history about Zelda Fichandler, whose founding of Arena Stage in Washington, DC in 1950 shifted live professional theater away from Broadway and inspired the creation of non-profit theaters around the country. Dianne Wiest, James Earl Jones, Stacy Keach, and Jane Alexander, among many others, share their memories of this intrepid pioneering woman during Arena Stage’s early years. Fichandler was Head of New York University’s Graduate Acting Program for 25 years. 368 pages.

Week of March 26, 2024

"Kaleidoscope"
(new digital single)
Song from Hell's Kitchen musical, now on Broadway, by Alicia Keys. Performed by Maleah Joi Moon. Released 3/22/24.

"Keep Marching"
(new digital single)
Song from Suffs, score by Shaina Taub. Shaina Taub and original Broadway cast.

White Girl in Danger
(Yellow Sound Label - new digital album)
Original cast album of score by Michael R. Jackson. Based on last year's co-production from Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater. Rocky Anicette, Liz Lark Brown, LaDonna Burns, Alexis Cofield, Kayla Davion, Shane Donovan, Latoya Edwards, Jennifer Fouché, Morgan Siobhan Green, Molly Hager, Ciara Alyse Harris, Vincent Jamal Hooper, James Jackson Jr., Tarra Conner Jones, Alyse Alan Louis, Lauren Marcus, Jon-Michael Reese, Eric William Morris, and Natalie Walker. Produced by Michael Croiter, Lynne Shankel, and Michael R. Jackson. Co-produced by Meg Zervoulis. Executive producers Salman al-Rashid and Accidental Jacket Entertainment. Orchestrations by Lynne Shankel

Weeks of March 12 and March 19, 2024

42 Balloons
(new EP)
Studio cast recording of score by Jack Godfrey. Cast includes Charlie McCullagh, Evelyn Hoskins, Gillian Hardie, and Lejaun Sheppard. The show will run at The Lowry in Salford, Manchester UK starting in April. Eight tracks.

Al Jolson Rediscovered: Dynamic Public-Domain Performances Curated by Chip Deffaa
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD)
Some two dozen performances. Includes soundtrack recordings from the landmark Jolson films (now in public domain), including one rare number missing from the version of The Singing Fool that's seen today, acoustic studio recordings, and early radio performances. Audio restoration by Scott Gordon. Graphic design by Frank Dain.

Beautiful Little Fool: The Demos
(new EP)
Demo recordings of score by actress/writer Hannah Corneau (book for the musical is by Mona Mansour). "nobody parties like us," "A Writer Now," "Here We Are," "AlabamaGrl." Produced by Ross Baum and mixed and mastered by Jeremy Chereskin. Released 3/1/24.

"Begging You"
(new digital single)
Colton Ryan and Kate Douglas sing a song from the score for The Lucky Few by Todd Almond and Kate Douglas. On Spotify.

Chip Deffaa's Rare And Unrecorded Irving Berlin Songs
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/digital)
29 performances available on no other albums. Some classics, with primary emphasis on lesser-known and never-before-recorded Berlin rarities. Singers include such Broadway and cabaret artists as Betty Buckley, Anita Gillette, Steve Ross, Stephen Bogardus, Jon Peterson, Analise Scarpaci, Eric William Morris, Joan Jaffe, Keith Anderson, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano.

Edith Piaf, Je Vous Aime
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
Part of Stage Door Records' Cast Album Masters Series. Musical revue devised by Canadian performer Libby Morris, based around the songs of Piaf, specially adapted into English by American lyricist and poet Fran Landesman (with additional lyrics by Peter Reeves and Ronnie Bridges). Opened at London's King's Head Theatre in February 1977. Starring, with Morris, Maureen Scott, Peter Reeves, and Clifton Todd. 37 songs were recorded in April 1977 and produced by Norman Newell. Released as a 2LP set. Limited release of 500 copies. StageDoorRecords.com.

The Effect
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Music from the National Theatre production of Lucy Prebble's The Effect (currently running at The Shed in New York City). Music by Michael "Mikey J" Asante. 32 tracks.

Gershwin Rhapsody
(Decca/Verve - new on CD/digital)
Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Michael Feinstein. "Rhapsody in Blue," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," "Sweet & Lowdown," "Clap Yo'hands/Fascinating Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "The Man I Love/Rhapsody in Blue," "Tea for Two," "Sleepless Night," "Graceful and Elegant," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "Dance of the Waves," "Rialto Ripples," "Sutton Place," "Under the Cinnamon Tree," "Jasbo Brown Blues."Released 2/23/24.

The Gardens of Anuncia
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Original cast recording of score by John LaChiusa. Enrique Acevedo, Andréa Burns, Eden Espinosa, Priscilla Lopez, Tally Sessions, Mary Testa and Kalyn West. Orchestrations by Michael Starobin. "Opening," "Mamí Said," "Listen to the Music," "Waiting/Dreaming," "Dance While You Can," "Malagueña," "The Annunciation," "Smile for Me, Lucia," "The Vigil," "Dance While You Can (Reprise)," "Travel," "Miss the Man," "The Story of That Man," "Listen to the Music (Reprise)," "Never a Goodbye/Finale." Recorded 12/4/23. Produced by Lawrence Manchester and Michael John LaChiusa.

Glitter & Doom
(PS Classics - new on CD/digital)
Soundtrack from new musical film. Score by Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. New song plus reimaginings of other Indigo Girls classics. Ray and Saliers perform along with Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle, Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson, Peppermint, and Beth Malone. "Closer to Fine (Prologue)," "Prince of Darkness," "Shed Your Skin & Touch Me Fall," "Keeper of My Heart," "Get Out the Map & Bitterroot," "Match & (S)He's Saving Me," "World Falls," "Keeper of My Heart (Reprise)," "Everything in Its Own Time," "Little Revolution," "1 2 3 & Leeds & I'll Change," "Center Stage," "Mystery & Fly Away," "Get Out the Map & Prince of Darkness (Reprise)," "Closer to Fine & Everything in Its Own Time," "Power of Two," "What We Wanna Be," "Galileo (Glitter & Doom Remix)." Produced by Chamuel. Released 3/8/24.

Jane Scheckter: I'll Take Romance
(Doxie Records - new on CD/digital)
Songs include "Isn't It a Pity," "If Love Were All," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "A Beautiful Friendship," "Love I Hear," "A Song for Bill Evans," "Looking Back." Released 3/15/24.

Lainie Kazan albums
( digital albums)
Remastered recordings: Right Now! (1966), Lainie Kazan (1966), The Love Album (1967), and Love Is Lainie (1968), originally released by MGM Records. Largely conceived and conducted by Peter Daniels Deluxe CD set is planned for 2025.

The Long Revolution: Sixty Years on the Frontlines of a New American Theater
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Zelda Fichandler. Todd London, editor. Content from sixty years of essays, speeches, and manifestos by the founding mother of the resident professional theatre movement. Founder and artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and chair of New York University’s Graduate Acting program. Gathers Fichandler’s most prescient writing about that movement, ranging over such topics as The Institution as Art-Work, the Profit in NonProfit, Race and a Deepening Aesthetic, and Creativity and the Public Mind. Also includes intimate portraits of artists with whom she frequently collaborated and director’s notes from the major productions that defined her vision. 320 pages.

PRISM Quartet: Heritage/Evolution Vol. 3
(XAS Records - new album)
Saxophone quartet Timothy McAllister (soprano), Zachary Shemon (alto), Matthew Levy (tenor), Taimur Sullivan (baritone). With Melissa Aldana, Tim Ries, Terell Stafford, Miguel Zenón. "Send in the Clowns" (this track was released 3/8/24), "Found," "Favor," "Reflections," "Resumen de Otoño," "El Atardecer," "Una Carta de Amor," "Con La Primavera," "Un Breve Amor."

Rosie the Musical
(Absolute Label - new on CD [import])
Studio cast recording of score by Chris Broom. Cast includes Desmonda Cathabel, Lucy Thomas, Will Callan, Nora Thomas. The show follows Rosie Boot, a convent-educated Irish girl who joins the chorus line at London's Gaiety Theatre in the Strand at the turn of the last century.

State Fair and the 20th Century-Fox Songbook
(Dutton Vocalion - new SACD Hybrid Multi-Channel 2-CD set)
See DuttonVocalion.co.uk.

Tesla concept album
(new digital album)
Concept cast album for score by Aaron Guzzo (music/lyrics), Craig Hissong (lyrics), and Denise Bradley (additional lyrics). Oliver Savile, Tim Howar, Bethany Joy Lenz, Pia Toscano, Denise Bradley, Clive Standen, Tony Amendola, Bradley Bundlie. Arranged by Aaron Guzzo and Jonathan Merrill. Executive Produced by Bob Guzzo and Jonathan Merrill. "What I Want," "Standing in the Light," "Dear Mr Tesla," "Go On," "Edison's Monologue," "Edison's Lament," "Where Are You Goin'?," "Child of Light," "Transmission," "Lovely," "Pick Yourself Up," "Katharine's Song." Released 3/1/24. BandCamp.com.

U.G.L.Y. the Moo-sical
(Todrick Hall Musicals - new digital album)
Score by Todrick Hall. Kristin Chenoweth, Carlie Craig, and Todrick Hall, Nick Adams, J. Harrison Ghee, Derek Klena, Tiffany Mann, Orfeh, Colleen Ballinger, Mari Maupin, Cheyenne Isabel Wells. 10 tracks.

Week of March 5, 2024

Cinderella Rock
(Todrick Hall Musicals - new digital album)
Studio cast album of score by Todrick Hall. Cynthia Erivo, Nicole Scherzinger, Shoshana Bean, Laura Bell Bundy, Cheyenne Jackson, Taylor Louderman, Adam Pascal, Solea Pfeiffer, Jordin Sparks, and Teresa Stanley. "Once Upon a Time," "If the Shoe Fits," "Believe in Make Believe," "I'm a Star," "Miss Heartbreaker," "A Little Help From a Friend," "I Can't Wish Much More," "A Miracle or Two," "A Miracle or Two (Reprise) / Notice Me," "Officially in Love," "Marry Me a Prince," "Fly Away," "Don't Forget to Dream." Released 2/27/24.

The Color Purple
(Watertower Music - new 2-CD set/vinyl)
Soundtrack from 2023 musical film. Songs from the stage musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray; and songs by Alicia Keys, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, Tamela Mann, Mörda, Brenden Praise, Keyshia Cole, Ludmilla, Jorja Smith, Coco Jones, Mary Mary, Missy Elliott, H.E.R, Fantasia, and Ciara. Cast includes Fantasia, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R. "Workin'," "Hell No!," "Shug Avery," "Dear God - Shug," "Push Da Button," "What About Love?," "Agoo," "Hell No! (Reprise)," "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," "Miss Celie's Pants," "I'm Here," "Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin'," "The Color Purple," "Superpower." Digital released 12/15/23.

Figaro: An Original Musical
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
World premiere cast recording of "West End bound" musical. Score by Jana (book by Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata). Cayleigh Capaldi, Mauricio Martínez, Ashley Jana, Lily Bell Morgan, Benjamin Pajak, T. Oliver Reid, and Jayke Workman. Produced by Ashley Jana, Will Nunziata, Van Dean, Mia Moravis. Andrew Byrnes and Tony Award nominee Michael Lamon are Associate Producers. 27 tracks. Released 3/1/24.

Letters from an Actor: Anniversary Edition
(Applause - revised edition in Paperback)
By William Redfield. Foreword by Sam Mendes. Afterword by Adam Redfield. William Redfield's (Guildenstern) series of letters describing the daily happenings and his impressions of them during the three months of preparation for the 1964 Hamlet, from rehearsals through out-of-town tryouts to the gala opening night on Broadway. New edition brings Redfield's classic back into print, as The Motive and the Cue, the Sam Mendes-directed play about the Gielgud production that is based in part on the book, continues its run in the West End. 264 pages.

Most Likely Not To ...
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Official cast album recording of songs by Greg Dean Borowsky, James Ian, Peter Mills, Katya Stanislavskaya, and Melvin Tunstall III. Cast includes Lauryn Adams, Darilyn Castillo, Andrew Chappelle, Sarah Dacey Charles, Bryan Cortes, James Ian, Cedric Leiba Jr., Alexis Loiselle, Joel Manuel, Phil Sloves, Yasmeen Suliman, Jesse Swimm, Melvin Tunstall III, Natalie Weiss, Allie Williams, and Jessy Yates. 13 members of the SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) community played a role in the development of this show, including seven people living with SMA and six non-disabled caregivers who serve as SMA advocates. "A Travel Day," "Like We Care," "Take Me Back," "SPACES," "Start Again," "Take Me Back (Reprise)." Adam Pryor and mixed by Grammy Award nominee Michael J. Moritz Jr. Six tracks. Released 3/1/24.

Oz, the Musical
(Todrick Hall Musicals - new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Todrick Hall. Nick Rashad Burroughs, Gavin Creel, Brandon Victor Dixon, Telly Leung, and Rachel Potter, Sutton Foster, Todrick Hall, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jade Novah, and Bill Porter. "No Place Like Home," "Someday," "Party in Munchkinland," "55 Miles," "B-R-A-N-E," "Feel That Music," "I Need a Lion," "Halfway There," "It's Gotta Be Green," "Witch of the West Side," "I'm Ready."

Playhouse Square and the Cleveland Renaissance
(The Kent State Univ Press - Paperback Book)
By John Vacha. In-depth account of Cleveland's Playhouse Square (originally the State, Ohio, Hanna, Allen, and Palace theaters) history, beginning with the 1921 opening, through the darkening of four of their marquees by the end of the 1960s, the renovation and renaissance from the 1970s, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Illustrated and featuring interviews with the central figures involved in saving the Square. 240 pages. [Appears to be available ahead of announced release date.]

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)

(new EP)
UK cast recording of score from musical by Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift. "New York," "What'll It Be," "Dad," "This Is The Place," "Be Happy," "About To Go In," "This Year," "If I Believed." Making West End debut April 2024. Released 2/21/24.

White Rose: The Musical
(Yellow Sound Label - new album)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Natalie Brice (music) and Brian Belding (book and lyrics). Orchestrations by Charlie Rosen. Was produced in 2024 at Theatre Row.

Week of February 27, 2024

Merrily We Roll Along
(Masterworks Broadway - new 2-disc vinyl)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Score by Stephen Sondheim (book by George Furth). Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe with Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, and Reg Rogers. "Overture," "Merrily We Roll Along," "That Frank," "First Transition," "Old Friends -- Like It Was," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Second Transition," "Old Friends," "Growing Up," "Third Transition," "Not a Day Goes By," "Not a Day Goes By," "Now You Know," "Gussie's Opening Number," "It's a Hit!," "Fourth Transition," "The Blob - Part I," "Growing Up," "Good Thing Going," "The Blob - Part II," "Fifth Transition," "Bobby and Jackie and Jack," "Not a Day Goes By," "Sixth Transition," "Opening Doors," "Seventh Transition," "Our Time." Barnes and Noble exclusive.

Nic & Desi: La Vie en Rose
(new on CD/digital)
Singer/actors Nicolas Dromard and Desirée Davar. "Cheek to Cheek", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "La Vie en Rose", "You Make Me Feel So Young", "Being Alive", "Money, Money", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Top Hat/Puttin' on the Ritz", "Pure Imagination", "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You", "You Make Me Feel So Young" (featuring Zélia Dromard).

The Prince of Egypt: The Musical
(Dazzler Media/Universal Pictures - new Blu-ray/PAL DVD)
Stage musical based on the 1998 animated film. Original London cast. Score by Stephen Schwartz; book by Philip LaZebnik. Filmed live at the Dominion Theatre in London. Choreography by Sean Cheesman. Set designs by Kevin Depinet. Costume designs by Ann Hould-Ward. Lighting design by Mike Billings. Sound design by Gareth Owen. Shown in cinemas in 2023 and is now streaming. 2 hours and 24 minutes. Currently streaming on BroadwayHD.

Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme: The Original Hits
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
Compilation album with selections by Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, and Steve & Eydie together. "Too Close for Comfort," "Party Doll," "Love Me Forever," "Pretty Blue Eyes," "You Need Hands," "Footsteps," "Blame It on the Bossa Nova," "Portrait of My Love," "I Want to Stay Here," "Go Away Little Girl," "Don't Try to Fight It Baby," "Don't Be Afraid Little Darlin'," "I Can't Stop Talking About You," "I Want You to Meet My Baby," "Poor Little Rich Girl," "Sabor a Mi," "Walking Proud," "Tonight I'll Say a Prayer," "The Drifter," "We Can Make It Together" (featuring The Osmonds).

Sweeney Todd 2023 revival cast
(Reprise Records - new on 3-LP disc box set)
Score by Stephen Sondheim. Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Jordan Fisher, Gaten Matarazzo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria Bilbao, Jamie Jackson, John Rapson, Nicholas Christopher And Jeanna De Waal."Prelude," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "No Place Like London," "The Barber and His Wife," "The Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "My Friends," "Green Finch and Linnet Bird," "Ah, Miss," "Johanna," "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," "The Contest," "Wait," "Kiss Me (Pt. 1)," "Ladies in Their Sensitivities," "Kiss Me (Pt. 2)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 1)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 2)," "Epiphany," "A Little Priest," "God, That's Good!," "Johanna (Act 2 Sequence)," "By the Sea," "The Letter," "Not While I'm Around," "Parlor Song," "City on Fire!," "Searching," "The Judge's Return," "Final Scene," "The Barber and His Wife (Reprise)," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Finale)" Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Music supervision by Alex Lacamoire. 40-page booklet with full libretto, production photos, and an essay by Peter Marks. Digital and CD released earlier.

Week of February 20, 2024

The Gospel According to Heather
(JAY Records - new digital album)
2023 Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Paul Gordon. Cast includes Lauren Elder, Badia Farha, Maria Habeeb, Jeremy Kushnier, Maya Lagerstam, Zach Rand, Katey Sagal, Carson Stewart, Brittany Nicole Williams, and Wayne Wilson. "My Name Is Heather Krebs," "The Weight of My Burden," "Wait," "Risen," "Conventional," "Don't Go Spreading Rumours," "The Healing," "Reckoning," "St Heather," "Just a GirlBreaking News," "She Has on Sneakers," "Up All Night," "Spread a Little Light," "Don't Tell Mom," "My Name is Heather Kreb (Reprise)," "Penny In My Pocket," "Raise Your Hand," "Raise Your Hand (reprise)." Produced by John Yap. Released 2/16/24. CD version expected soon via MVD.

Natalie Douglas: Back to the Garden
(Club44 - new on CD/digital)
"Begin the Beguine," "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face," "Woodstock," "Let It Be Me," "Who," "Trust In Me," "Love Is the Power That Heals Me," "Work Song," "You'll Never Know," "He Lives in a World of His Own," "True Colors."

Whisper Darkly
(TBI Music Group - new album )
Concept album for "immersive electro-swing musical" score by Andrew Gerle (the book is by DJ Salisbury). Cast includes Kayla Davion, Claybourne Elder, Keri René Fuller, Alli Mauzey, Aléna Watters. "We Make the Night," "The Top Dog Strut," "Who's Evie Now?," "Run in the Rain," "Love in the Shadows," "Too Much Fun Fun," "Jazz Age Johnny," "Paris Says Yes," "The Go Easy Tango," "Black Widow's Kiss," "Things I Didn't Know / Keep Your Secrets," "The Spouse of Ill Repute," "Fallen Angels," "This Is Not My Song," "We Make the Night Finale." Accompanied by jazz band: Sara Caswell (violin), Josh Roberts (drums), Alphonso Horne (trumpet), and Roberto Gervasi (accordion). Preview dance mix "Too Much Fun" to be available January 17. Produced by Andrew Gerle and PiSk (Roberto Costa). 15 tracks.

Week of February 13, 2024

Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
(Bloomsbury - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Philip Gefter. The author traces Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from its origins in Greenwich Village's bohemian enclave, through its tormented production process, to its explosion onto screens across America and a permanent place in the canon of cinematic marriages. 368 pages.

Mandela - A New Musical
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Original London cast recording of score by Greg Dean Borowsky and Shaun Borowsky, with additional music and lyrics by Bongi Duma. Live from the Young Vic. (Book by Laiona Michelle). Starring Michael Luwoye and Danielle Fiamanya.

Melissa Errico: Sondheim in the City
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - new on CD/digital)
"Dawn," "Another Hundred People," "Opening Doors / What More Do I Need?," "Take Me To The World," "Can That Boy Foxtrot!," "Anyone Can Whistle," "Everybody Says Don't," "Good Thing Going," "Broadway Baby," "Uptown, Downtown," "It Wasn't Meant To Happen," "Little Things You Do Together," "Sorry-Grateful," "Being Alive." Musicians include Tedd Firth on piano, David Finck on bass, Lewis Nash on drums and Matt Munisteri on guitar. Arrangements by Tedd Firth. Recorded, edited and mixed by Alex Venguer and mastered by Scott Hull.

Week of February 6, 2024

Mauricio Martínez live album
(new digital album)
Show titled 5'11, Based in NYC recorded live at 54 Below in October 2023, written by Mauricio Martínez and Robbie Rozelle, with musical direction and arrangements by Brian J. Nash and directed by Robbie Rozelle. Emmy Award winner Mauricio Martínez (On Your Feet!) with Linedy Genao and Alexis Michelle. "All I Care About Is Love," I need a reader… Pt. 1, "If Ever I Would Leave You," My accent came out…, "Another Hundred People," The most important person in my life…, "The Music of the Night," I need a reader Pt. 2, "The Latin Medley," "You Are Woman, I Am Man," I paid my bills doing telenovelas..., "The Villain Medley," It's fun to play the bad guy..., "Good Thing Going," That song was very depressing…, "Can't Stop the Feeling," A self tape I did book…, "The Impossible Dream," "You'll Be Back." Album produced by Mauricio Martínez and Robbie Rozelle. Released 2/2/24.

Waitress musical
(Bleecker Street Media/Decal - new on DVD/Blu-ray)
Filmed live capture (at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre) of the Broadway musical, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, book by Jessie Nelson. Cast includes Sara Bareilles, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett, and Christopher Fitzgerald. Show directed by Diane Paulus. Brett Sullivan directed the live filming and Nelson served as a film creative advisor. Dolby Digital 5.1 track with an aspect ratio of 1.85. 144 minutes. Also to be available for streaming in January 2024.

Week of January 30, 2024

Mein Freund Bunbury
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
1964 German musical adaptation of The Importance of Being Ernest. Original cast recording of score by Gerd Natschinski (music) and Jurgen Degenhart (lyrics). Release date approximate. Kritzerland.com.

T.3: Option Up
(Arts Music - new on CD)
Vocal trio featuring Liam Fennecken, Jim Hogan and Brendan Jacob Smith. "Dilly Dilly," "Carry on Wayward Son," "When I Knew You," "Giiirl," "Bring Him Home," "Disney Medley" (with Shoshana Bean, Morgan James, and Aisha Jackson). Produced by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey. Digital released 12/8/23.

Steven Pasquale: Some Other Time
(Center Stage Records - new digital album)
Steven Pasquale with John Pizzarelli (voice and guitar). "When I Fall in Love," "Young at Heart," "This Nearly Was Mine," "I’ll Be Seeing You," "Stardust," "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," "Smile," "Nature Boy," "The Impossible Dream," "Some Other Time." Released 1/26/24. Vinyl edition expected in the future.

Tammy Grimes
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart, E.Y. Harburg and Sammy Fain, Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Burton Lane, and more. "Upstairs at the Downstairs Waltz," "Julius Monk Introduction," "Fit as a Fiddle," "We'll Be the Same," "The Springtime Cometh," "Take Him," "Let's Take a Walk Around the Block," "Molly Malone," "Limehouse Blues," "From Alpha to Omega," "What Shall I Do?," "I Loved Him But He Didn't Love Me," "Shoein' the Mare," "Blame It on My Youth," "Something Sort of Grandish," "Billboard," "Doodle Doo Doo." Limited to 500 copies only. Release date approximate. Kritzerland.com.

Week of January 23, 2024

Harmony
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
2022 Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. Cast includes Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Jessie Davidson, and Ana Hoffman. "Overture," "Harmony," "And What Do You See?," "This Is Our Time," "Your Son Is Becoming a Singer," "Every Single Day," "How Can I Serve You Madam?," "The Wedding," "Home," "We're Goin' Loco!," "Hungarian Rhapsody #20," "Come to the Fatherland!," "Where You Go," "In This World," "Threnody," "Stars in the Night." Digital released 8/31/23.

How to Dance in Ohio
(Center Stage records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Jacob Yandura and Rebekah Greer Melocik. Featuring Desmond Luis Edwards, Amelia Fei, Madison Kopec, Liam Pearce, Imani Russell, Conor Tague, Ashley Wool, Caesar Samayoa, Haven Burton, Darlesia Cearcy, Carlos L. Encinias, Nick Gaswirth, Melina Kalomas and Christina Sastre. "Today Is, Pt. 1," "Today Is, Pt. 2," "Under Control," "The How-to's," "How to Dance in Ohio," "Unlikely Animals," "Butterflies," "Slow Dancing," "Getting Ready for the Dance," "Waves and Wires," "Drift," "Terminally Human," "So Much in Common," "Chevy Silverado," "Reincarnation," "Nothing at All," "Building Momentum," "Building Momentum (Reprise)," "Finale." Produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr. and co-produced by Jacob Yandura, Bruce Coughlin and, for P3 Productions, Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez and Fiona Howe Rudin. Orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin. CD version expected February 2024. Released 1/19/24.

Tell it to the World: The Broadway Musical Abroad
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By David Savran. A look at how the Broadway musical travels the world, influencing and even transforming local practices and traditions. Focuses on recent musicals but also looks back through the twentieth century to plot the evolution of musical theatre in South Korea and Germany. Appears to have been released early. 312 pages.

Thrill Maker: The Story of My Musical "Thrill Me"
(Offstage Drama Publishing - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Stephen Dolginoff. The author looks back over the last 30 years and writes about how his musical Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story became a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee and went on to have over two hundred productions spanning twenty-five countries and seventeen languages. 312 pages.

Week of January 16, 2024

Greasepaint Puritan: Boston to 42nd Street in the Queer Backstage Novels of Bradford Ropes
(Univ of Michigan Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Maya Cantu. Details the life and work of Bradford Ropes, author of the bawdy 1932 novel "42nd Street," on which the classic film and its stage adaptation are based. Follows Ropes s successful career as both a performer and the author of the backstage novels "42nd Street," "Stage Mother," and "Go Into Your Dance." Ropes rebelled against the "Proper Bostonian" life, in a career that touched upon the Jazz Age, American vaudeville, and theater censorship. 330 pages.

Mary & Ethel ... and Mikey Who?
(Moreclacke Publishing - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Stephen Cole, who has "taken his real-life friendships with Ethel Merman and Mary Martin, the two undisputed queens of Broadway, tossed them into a blender and come up with a fantasy about a nerdy super-fan in the early 1980s who, while visiting his dying idol Ethel Merman, stumbles into a time portal in her closet and exits on the other side in Sophie Tucker's star dressing room at the Imperial Theatre in 1939." Audio version narrated by Anita Gillette. 216 pages.

Week of January 9, 2024

Behind The Curtain: My Life And Rocky Horror
(Grosvenor House Publishing - new Paperback book)
By Martin Fitzgibbon. The drummer in the original London cast of The Rocky Horror Show gives his insight into how the show and its participants became an overnight success and created a cultural phenomenon which fifty years on still reverberates around the world. 174 pages. Released 11/3/23.

Brent Carver: Walk Me to the Corner
(Mirvish - new on CD)
Solo recording by Brent Carver, released posthumously. "The Falling In Love With You Part," "I'll Change," "When the Red, Red Robin"/"Great Expectations," "Running Out of Heroes," "A Lover's Concerto," "Don't Let Me See You Cry," "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)," "Changing the Guards"/"When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich," "My Land," "Si Les Bateaux—If All the Ships," "The World Is Changing," "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy."Mirvish-Productions-New.com

Hugh Panaro: Man without a Mask
(new digital album)
Recorded live over two nights in October 2022 at 54 Below. "Live with Somebody You Love," "Why God, Why?," "Make Believe / You Are Love," "You Don’t Bring Me Flowers," "Bring Him Home," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "One Plus One," "You Have Never Failed Me," "The Music of the Night," "Encore: It Only Takes a Moment," "Encore: Moon River." Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. Music direction by Joseph Thalken. CD version expected with a booklet. Released 12/30/23.

Kimberly Akimbo
(Ghostlight Records - 2-disc vinyl set)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire. Victoria Clark, Steven Boyer, Justin Cooley, Alli Mauzey, Bonnie Milligan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan, Michael Iskander, Nina White. DISC 1: "Skater Planet," "Hello, Darling," "Make a Wish," "Anagram," "Better," "Hello, Darling #2," "Father Time," "Happy for Her," "This Time"; DISC 2: "How to Wash a Check," "Good Kid," "Hello, Baby," "Skater Planet (Reprise)," "Our Disease," "The Inevitable Turn," "Now," "How to Wash a Check (Reprise)," "Before I Go," "Great Adventure." If booklet is the same as the CD, it features complete lyrics, color photography and liner notes by Washington Post theater writer Peter Marks. GhostlightRecords.com. Released earlier in digital format.

Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein
(Verve/Deutsche Grammophon - new on CD/digital/2-disc vinyl set)
Soundtrack for the 2023 film. London Symphony Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. 21 tracks. Released in November/December 2023.

Mark Winkler: The Rules Don't Apply
(Café Pacific Records - new album)
Vocalist/songwriter Mark Winkler's 21st album. With 16 top musicians who play in various combinations. "Sunday in L.A.," "I.G.Y (What a Wonderful World)," "The Joy of Singing," "In Love in New York," "Got to Get You into My Life," "The Rules Don't Apply," "Something So Right," "Just Around the Corner," "If These Walls Could Talk," "Jazz Swings," "Mama Told Me Not to Come," "Lessons I've Learned," "Here's to Jazz."

Mean Girls (Music from the Motion Picture)
(Interscope - digital album)
2024 musical film based on the stage musical. Songs by Jeff Richmond (music) and Nell Benjamin (lyrics) and score by Richmond. Album cast includes Avantika, Auli'i Cravalho, Tim Meadows, Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Jaquel Spivey, Bebe Wood. "A Cautionary Tale," "What Ifs," "Meet the Plastics," "Stupid With Love," "Apex Predator," "What's Wrong With Me?," "Sexy," "Someone Gets Hurt," "Revenge Party," "World Burn," "I'd Rather Be Me," "I See Stars," "Not My Fault."

Merrily We Roll Along
(Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Score by Stephen Sondheim (book by George Furth). Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe with Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, and Reg Rogers. "Overture," "Merrily We Roll Along," "That Frank," "First Transition," "Old Friends -- Like It Was," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Second Transition," "Old Friends," "Growing Up," "Third Transition," "Not a Day Goes By," "Not a Day Goes By," "Now You Know," "Gussie's Opening Number," "It's a Hit!," "Fourth Transition," "The Blob - Part I," "Growing Up," "Good Thing Going," "The Blob - Part II," "Fifth Transition," "Bobby and Jackie and Jack," "Not a Day Goes By," "Sixth Transition," "Opening Doors," "Seventh Transition," "Our Time." Released digitally 11/15/23.

Myths and Hymns
(new digital album)
Guitarist Garrett Gleason's re-working of Adam Guettel's song cycle, with Artie Sadtler on bass and Olaolu Ajibade on drums. The closing song, "Saturn Returns (Reprise)," was reimagined by Gleason and Guettel.

Week of January 2, 2024

The Color Purple
(Watertower Music - new digital album)
Soundtrack from 2023 musical film. Songs from the stage musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray; and songs by Alicia Keys, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, Tamela Mann, Mörda, Brenden Praise, Keyshia Cole, Ludmilla, Jorja Smith, Coco Jones, Mary Mary, Missy Elliott, H.E.R, Fantasia, and Ciara. Cast includes Fantasia, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R. "Workin'," "Hell No!," "Shug Avery," "Dear God - Shug," "Push Da Button," "What About Love?," "Agoo," "Hell No! (Reprise)," "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," "Miss Celie's Pants," "I'm Here," "Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin'," "The Color Purple," "Superpower." Released 12/15/23. CD and vinyl versions to be released 3/8/24. Also available, the 2-CD set Music From and Inspired by The Color Purple.

The Final Curtain: Obituaries of Fifty Great Actors
(Unicorn Publishing Group - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Michael Coveney. Fifty articles (from the the Guardian, the Observer, the Financial Times, and the Evening Standard) arranged in chronological order of each actor’s demise, constituting a vivid history of postwar theatre through the lives of the actors. There are happy/sad juxtapositions of shooting stars Robert Stephens and Alan Bates; tragic niece and aunt, Natasha Richardson and Lynn Redgrave; classical queens Diana Rigg and Barbara Jefford; and versatile showtime hoofers Una Stubbs and Lionel Blair. 256 pages. Released 12/28/23.

"Fly Away"
(4 Times Entertainment - new digital single)
Song from Jo - The Little Women Musical (music by Dan Redfeld and lyrics by Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej) performed by Jenna Lea Rose and members of the Hollywood Studio Symphony.

Wonka
(Watertower Music - new on CD/digital)
Soundtrack for live action 2023 film. Songs by Neil Hannon; original score by Joby Talbot. Cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant. "Pure Imagination" (Opening Titles Version), "A Hatful of Dreams," "Welcome to Scrubbit's," "You've Never Had Chocolate Like This" (Hoverchocs), "Flying Chocolatiers," "Scrub Scrub," "Wonka's Case," "Sweet Tooth," "Willy and Noodle at the Zoo," "For a Moment," "The Letter 'A'," "Clock Tower," "You've Never Had Chocolate Like This," "Oompa Loompa," "A World of Your Own," "Sorry, Noodle," "Mamma's Secret," "Pure Imagination," "Oompa Loompa" (Reprise), "500 Monks, 1 Giraffe," "Death By Chocolate," "The Oompa Loompa to the Rescue," "Noodle Gives Affable the Ledger," "Chocolate Fountain." Released 12/5/23.

Week of December 12-26, 2023

Carols for a Cure 2023: Volume 23
(new digital album)
Annual Broadway cast recording benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. "Sleigh Ride" (Some Like It Hot), "Happy Days" (& Juliet), "Good King Wenceslas" (Hamilton), "Holly Holy" (A Beautiful Noise), "Gonna Give Love" (Moulin Rouge), "We'll Be There" (Sweeney Todd), "The Man With The Bag" (Chicago), "Hark! The Herald" (Purlie Victorious), "Snowflakes" (Aladdin), "Sisters" (Kimberly Akimbo), "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (Shucked), "Ma'oz Tzur, Rock Of Ages" (Harmony), "Pasko Na, My Love" (Here Lies Love). At https://carolsforacure.biz. Previous year albums still available.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon
(Applause - Hardcover Book)
By Ellis Nassour ("Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar, from Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture," 1973). Detailed account of the life of the musical from 1969–1973. Behind the scenes look at the evolution of Jesus Christ Superstar from an album to a Broadway musical, exploring the breakthroughs, the frustrations, and the pitfalls. Never-before-seen photos and new interviews. 232 pages.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration Live at the Sondheim Theatre
(First Night Records - new 2-CD set / digital album)
Recorded live at London's Sondheim Theatre. Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Michael Ball, Rob Brydon, Ashley Campbell, Helena Bonham Carter, Anna-Jane Casey, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Haydn Gwynne, Rob Houchen, Holly-Anne Hull, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Julia McKenzie, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Siân Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Jeremy Secomb, Imelda Staunton, Gary Wilmot, Michael D. Xavier. 41 Sondheim songs. Currently running in the West End At The Gielgud Theatre. Produced by Lee McCutcheon, Stephen Metcalfe, and Cameron Mackintosh. Released 12/8/23.

Sweeney Todd 2023 revival cast
(Reprise Records - new on CD)
Score by Stephen Sondheim. Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Jordan Fisher, Gaten Matarazzo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria Bilbao, Jamie Jackson, John Rapson, Nicholas Christopher And Jeanna De Waal. "Prelude," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "No Place Like London," "The Barber and His Wife," "The Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "My Friends," "Green Finch and Linnet Bird," "Ah, Miss," "Johanna," "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," "The Contest," "Wait," "Kiss Me (Pt. 1)," "Ladies in Their Sensitivities," "Kiss Me (Pt. 2)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 1)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 2)," "Epiphany," "A Little Priest," "God, That's Good!," "Johanna (Act 2 Sequence)," "By the Sea," "The Letter," "Not While I'm Around," "Parlor Song," "City on Fire!," "Searching," "The Judge's Return," "Final Scene," "The Barber and His Wife (Reprise)," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Finale)." Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Music supervision by Alex Lacamoire. Release at Target.com appears to be 11/24/23. Digital released earlier. Vinyl to be released 3/1/24.

The Time Traveller's Wife
(Sony Masterworks - new on CD)
Original cast recording of score by Joss Stone and Dave Stewart (the book is by Lauren Gunderson). The show is opening at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End in October 2023. Cast includes David Hunter, Joanna Woodward, Tim Mahendran, Hiba Elchikhe, Ross Dawes, and Eve Corbishley. "Prologue," "Masterpiece," "Wait for Me," "One Day," "Damn Fool Love," "I See Her," "Who Are We," "Entr'acte," "Journeyman," "This Time," "A Woman's Intuition," "I'm in Control," "Make It New," "On and On," "Love Wins the Day," "Story of Love" (Bonus Track). Digital released 9/26/23.

Well-Behaved Women
(Concord Theatricals - new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Carmel Dean (lyrics for "Stay and Fight" by Miriam Laube). Sasha Allen, Laura Benanti, Andréa Burns, Liz Callaway, Jenn Colella, Hannah Corneau, Melissa Rose Hirsch, Dee Hoty, Judy Kaye, LaChanze, Lindsay Mendez, Bonnie Milligan, Lauren Patten, and Pearl Sun, and others. Orchestrations by Lynne Shankel. Released 12/8/23.

Week of December 5, 2023

17 Again
(Craft Recordings - new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (First Date). Eden Espinosa, Drew Gehling, Casey Likes, Bryce Pinkham, and Will Roland. Additional cast members include Mallory Bechtel, Gabrielle Carrubba, Alan H. Green, Ann Harada, F. Michael Haynie, Carly Hughes, Jesse Johnson, Desi Oakley, Sam Primack, Josh Strobl, Donna Vivino, D’Kaylah Unique Whitley, and Oscar Williams. Album produced by Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner, and August Eriksmoen, who also provided orchestrations. Music direction by Ben Cohn. Recorded and mixed by Ian Kagey and mastered by Oscar Zambrano.

Ann Kittredge: Wonderful Christmastime
(new digital single)
Actress/singer Ann Kittredge. Released 10/20/23.

Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops: The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party!
(Real Gone Music / Second Disc Records - on 2 CDs)
Compilation of two previously released albums: the original 1959 Pops Christmas Party in RCA Living Stereo; and 1969's new-to-CD Christmastime in Carol and Song (Special guests include Leontyne Price, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme). New liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese. Remastered at Sony's Battery Studios. 35 tracks in total. Released 9/15/23.

Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood
(Simon & Schuster - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By David Mamet, with illustrations by David Mamet. The author " shares scandalous and laugh-out-loud tales from his four decades in Hollywood where he worked with some of the biggest names in movies." Audiobook narrated by Jim Frangione. 256 pages.

Johnny Mathis: Christmas Time Is Here
(Legacy Recordings - new on CD/vinyl/digital)
Brand-new album from Johnny Mathis, marking his seventh decade of recording. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (with Kristin Chenoweth), "Christmas Time Is Here," "Merry Christmas, Baby," "White Christmas," "When A Child Is Born," "Blue Christmas," "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Auld Lang Syne." Released 8/11/23.

T.3: "Bring Him Home"
(Warner Music Group SNC Records / Arts Music - digital single)
Vocal trio Liam Fennecken, Jim Hogan, and Brendan Jacob Smith new single from upcoming album Option Up. Released 12/1/23.

Walking With Bubbles
(new on CD/digital)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Brianna Kothari Barnes. Produced by Tom D'Angora, Michael D'Angora, Scott Coulter, and Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla. Recorded at MONOLisa Studios and engineered by music supervisor Jacob Yates, Nick Potacki, and Brianna Barnes. Mixed and mastered by Ashton Michael Corey. The musical debuted at Irondale Theatre in 2021. Released 12/1/23.

Wild About You
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
World premiere recording of new musical score by Chilina Kennedy. Lea Salonga, Alex Newell, Joaquina Kalukango, Jenn Colella, Eric McCormack, Aisha Jackson, Noah Ricketts, Jay McKenzie, Katharine McPhee, Jessie Mueller, Jackie Burns, Rachel Ling Gordon. Arrangements, orchestrations and music production are by Daniel Edmonds. Produced by Brian Spector, Daniel Edmonds and Michael J. Moritz Jr. Previously released digitally.

Week of November 28, 2023

Christmas with The Choir of Man
(Westway Music - new digital EP)
From the British jukebox musical, which originated at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. With Choir of Man cast members who have been seen on stage across the world. The 6-track EP to include "This Christmas," "Driving Home for Christmas," and "The Christmas Song." CD to be available at Arts Theatre in London's West End.

Dianne Fraser: You and I - The Words and Music of Leslie Bricusse
(new on CD/digital)
Debut album. "At the Crossroads / After Today," "Pure Imagination," "Feeling Good," "Crazy World / If I Ruled the World," "Le Jazz Hot," "Happiness," "Look at That Face / Something in Your Smile," "You and I," "This Is the Moment / Once in a Lifetime," "Two for the Road."

Hook Ultimate Edition
(La-La Land Records - new 3-CD set)
Expanded and and remastered soundtrack from 1991 film. Disc One / Disc Two: the John Williams score presentation with additional music tracks. Disc Three: songs by Williams and Leslie Bricusse (eight demos from when it was going to be a musical), alternate cues, and source music. 48-Page booklet with in-depth liner notes by Mike Matessino and associate producers John Takis and Jason LeBlanc. 12-page second booklet in the package has track list. Limited release of 5000 units.

James A. Rocco: Holidays with Mom
(new digital EP)
Broadway/regional actor/singer/director/choreographer James A. Rocco. "I Remember," "The Christmas Song," "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)."

Julie Benko: Christmas with You
(Club44 Records - new EP)
"The Man with the Bag," "(I Never Had a) Christmas with You" (with Mykal Kilgore) - available now, "Tumbalalaika," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Liam Forde: "The Holiday Season"
(Ballyhoo Music - new digital single)
New version of the Kay Thompson classic. Billy Stritch on piano.

The Sound of Music Super Deluxe Edition
(Craft Recordings - 4-CD/1-Blu-Ray Audio box set and digital)
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein score. The soundtrack, expanded, remixed and remastered. With well over 40 previously unreleased tracks. Collects every musical element from the film for the very first time, along with instrumentals of each song, plus 11 never-before-heard alternate takes, including rare performances from the cast. The accompanying Blu-Ray Audio disc features the full score in hi-res audio as well as a new Dolby Atmos mix of the original 16-track soundtrack. In-depth liner notes by Robert Wise associate Mike Matessino, who also remixed and remastered the album from the original multi-track tapes. Read more here. Also to be available: Deluxe 2-CD edition; Deluxe 3-LP vinyl in black and in Picnic Meadow Green; Super Deluxe Edition digital; and Standard digital.

Week of November 21, 2023

Babes in Toyland
(Kino Lorber - new blu-ray)
1986 made-for-TV musical film based on the 1903 Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough operetta. Score by Leslie Bricusse, with portions of the original operetta. Drew Barrymore, Richard Mulligan, Eileen Brennan, Keanu Reeves. 96 minutes.

Conversations in Color: Exploring North American Musical Theatre
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition
By Sean Mayes. Unveils the untold stories and perspectives of artists of color shaping the stage today, through interviews drawn from Broadway and regional productions, including André De Shields, Alex Lacamoire, Baayork Lee, and many more. 168 pages.

Fifty Key Theatre Designers
(Routledge - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Arnold Aronson. Looks at the history of theatrical scenography by examining the work and contributions of fifty set, costume, lighting, and projection designers since the Renaissance ... including opera, dance, Broadway and West End commercial theatre, avant-garde performance, and even Olympic spectacles. Each chapter features one designer, with basic biographical information and a discussion of that artist's style, aesthetics, and contributions. 330 pages.

Jersey Boys OBC
(Rhino Records/Arts Music - new 2-LP vinyl set)
First ever vinyl issue of OBC album. Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer, and John Lloyd Young. Side A: "Ces Soirées-Là," "The Early Years: A Scrapbook," "Cry for Me," "Backup Sessions," "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," "My Boyfriend's Back," "My Eyes Adored You"; Side B: "Dawn (Go Away)," "Big Man in Town," "Beggin'," "Medley: Stay/ Let's Hang On!/ Opus 17 (Don't You Worry ‘bout Me/ Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)," "C'mon Marianne," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You ," "Working My Way Back to You," "Fallen Angel," "Rag Doll," "Who Loves You." Also: exclusive red vinyl set at Barnes & Noble.

Julie Garnyé and Stephen Schwartz: "Forgiveness' Embrace"
(Club44 Records - new digital recording)
Song by Stephen Schwartz, performed by Julie Garnyé and Schwartz. In full orchestra and piano/vocal arrangement versions. Produced by Wayne Haun and Stephen Schwartz. From the 2023 film Jimmy and Carolyn. Released 11/17/23.

Merrily We Roll Along
(Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Score by Stephen Sondheim (book by George Furth). Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe with Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, and Reg Rogers. "Overture," "Merrily We Roll Along," "That Frank," "First Transition," "Old Friends -- Like It Was," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Second Transition," "Old Friends," "Growing Up," "Third Transition," "Not a Day Goes By," "Not a Day Goes By," "Now You Know," "Gussie's Opening Number," "It's a Hit!," "Fourth Transition," "The Blob - Part I," "Growing Up," "Good Thing Going," "The Blob - Part II," "Fifth Transition," "Bobby and Jackie and Jack," "Not a Day Goes By," "Sixth Transition," "Opening Doors," "Seventh Transition," "Our Time." CD to be released 1/12/24. Released 11/15/23.

Week of November 8, 2023

"Get Up" from Witches
(Broadway Records - new digital single)
From score by Dave Malloy (book by Lucy Kirkwood). National Theatre cast. Jersey Blu Georgia, Asanda Abbie Masike, Chloe Raphael. Released 11/5/23.

My Name Is Barbra
(Viking - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Barbra Streisand's memoir detailing her life from growing up in Brooklyn to the early days of her career, including her breakout performance in the musical and film versions of Funny Girl, and the years after. Audiobook narrated by the author. 992 pages.

Purple Rising: Celebrating 40 Years of the Magic, Power, and Artistry of The Color Purple
(Atria Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By Lise Funderburg. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece "The Color Purple," as well as the acclaimed 1985 film from Steven Spielberg, the Tony-winning Broadway musical, and the all-new film adaptation. An exploration of the novel’s enduring legacy, featuring contributions from Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Danny Glover, and more. Oral histories and fresh anecdotes based on more than fifty original interviews, as well as vibrant, never-before-seen images. Oral histories and fresh anecdotes based on more than fifty original interviews, as well as vibrant, never-before-seen images.

Rachel Tucker: You're Already Home ...
(Westway Music - new digital album)
New album from Northern Irish West End and Broadway actress-singer Rachel Tucker. "It's Time," "He's My Boy," "Party of One," "Following the River," "I'm Gonna Be Strong," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I'm Home," "All Right Now," "Happier Than Ever," "It All Fades Away" (with Jason Robert Brown), "Before You Go" (with Sam Young), "Everything Changes," "Whole of the Moon." CD format to be released 11/10/23.

Spirited Away: Live On Stage
(Shout! Factory - new 2-disc Blu-ray set)
Hayao Miyazaki's animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation. Adapted and directed by John Caird. Features two unique casts and performances filmed during the show's 2022 run at Tokyo's Imperial Theatre. Featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro. 160 minutes.

Xena: Warrior Musical
(Theatre Barn Records - new digital album)
By S.C. Lucier and Meghan Rose. All star studio cast album. Jenn Colella, L Morgan Lee, Taylor Iman Jones, and Wren Rivera. Was produced at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn.

Week of October 31, 2023

Blue Man Group: Overjoy to the World
(Rhino Records - new EP)
"Above the Halls," "Carol of the Pipes," "Nutcracker Medley," "Attention in the Halls Please," "PVC Dreidel Mashup," "Feliz Navidad," "Jingle Bones," "Hall Chant," "Overjoy to the World." Composed and arranged by Jeff Turlik.

Failure, Fascism, and Teachers in American Theatre: Pedagogy of the Oppressors
(Palgrave Macmillan - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By James F. Wilson. Explores the shifting representations of schoolteachers and professors in plays and performances primarily from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the United States. Examining various historical and recurring types, such as spinsters, schoolmarms, presumed sexual deviants, radicals and communists, fascists, and emasculated men teachers, the author shines the spotlight on both well-known and nearly-forgotten plays. 230 pages.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes soundtrack with rare bonus tracks
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
"As complete as possible" soundtrack release from the 1953 film. Songs by Jule Styne and Leo Robin. Includes rare bonus tracks such as demos and outtakes. Also included are the movie songs recorded in French for the French market. 23 tracks. SepiaRecords.com.

Stephanie J. Block: Merry Christmas, Darling
(Club44 Records - new on CD/digital)
Featuring both secular and sacred seasonal classics, including a new song written for her by Club44 co-founder Wayne Haun and David Zippel, a duet with her husband Sebastian Arcelus, and a duet with their daughter Vivienne Arcelus. "Sleigh Ride," "And Snow," "Merry Christmas, Darling" (available now), "Little Drummer Girl" (with Vivienne Arcelus), "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep / My Favorite Things," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "When You Hold Me in Your Arms (It's Christmas)" (with Sebastian Arcelus), "Winter White," "O Holy Night," "Manhattan in December." Produced by Wayne Haun and Stephanie J. Block, with Joel Lindsey and Sharon Terrell serving as executive producers.

Week of October 24, 2023

Beyond Ridiculous: Making Gay Theatre with Charles Busch in 1980s New York
(Univ of Iowa Press - Paperback Book)
By Kenneth Elliott. Tells the story of Theatre-in-Limbo, a downtown band of actors formed in 1984 by director Kenneth Elliott and playwright and drag legend Charles Busch. Elliott narrates the company's Cinderella tale of fun, heartbreak, and dishy drama. 226 pages.

Evergreens : Celebrating Six Decades on Columbia Records
(Legacy Recordings - new on 2 CDs/Vinyl)
Celebrates Barbra Streisand's 60th anniversary as a Columbia Records artist. Features 22 songs hand selected by Barbra as some of her favorite pieces throughout her career (many are deep tracks). None have appeared on previous Streisand compilation albums before. Disc 1: "I'll Tell the Man in the Street," "Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered)," "Absent Minded Me," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Where or When," "Ma Première Chanson," "I Don't Know Where I Stand," "I Never Meant to Hurt You," "Letters That Cross in the Mail," "Answer Me," "Tomorrow," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "Two People," "Some Enchanted Evening," "I Believe," "Isn't It a Pity?," "Moon River," "Here's to Life," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Who Can I Turn to (When Nobody Needs Me) - Barbra Streisand with Anthony Newley," "Lady Liberty," "Evergreen (Love Theme from "A Star Is Born")." Disc: 2: "Two People," "Some Enchanted Evening," "I Believe (Previously Unreleased)," "Isn't It a Pity?," "Moon River," "Here's to Life (Orchestra Version)," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Who Can I Turn to (When Nobody Needs Me) with Anthony Newley," "Lady Liberty," "Evergreen (Love Theme from a Star Is Born)" (2023).

Guys and Dolls
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
2023 London cast recording of score by Frank Loesser. Cast includes Daniel Mays, Cedric Neal, Andrew Richardson, Celinde Schoenmaker, and Marisha Wallace. Produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr., Charlie Rosen and Tom Brady, and co-produced by Van Dean and Emily Loesser. Executive produced by Accidental Jacket, Matt Britten and Andrew Paradis. Digital released 9/29/23.

Hamnet
(Methuen Drama - Kindle Edition)
Play by Maggie O'Farrell, based on her novel. Currently at the Garrick Theatre, London. Paperback version released 6/29/23.

Judy Garland: Splendor and Downfall of a Legend by Bertrand Tessier
(BearManor - new book)
French biography by Bertrand Tessier first published by Archipel (Paris) in 2019. With 200 photos, many published for the first time. Translated by Lawrence Schulman, who has also provided a foreword. 308 pages. Released 3/17/23.

Lisa Dawn Miller: My Favorite Time of Year
(new EP)
Lisa Dawn Miller collection of original holiday songs and a nod to her father, legendary songwriter, Ron Miller. "My Favorite Time of Year," "We'll Always Have Christmas Eve," "A Miracle," "It's Christmas," "A Christmas Truce," "A New Year," "Someday at Christmas."

Pentatonix: The Greatest Christmas Hits
(RCA Records - new on two CDs/digital)
23 Pentatonix holiday classics plus eight brand new songs. Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee. 31 tracks. Booklet included. Released 10/20/23.

Poster Child: The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd
(Cameron Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By David Edward Byrd and Robert von Goeben. Foreword by Marc Myers. Afterword by Jolino Beserra. Graphic artist David Edward Byrd pioneered the iconic visual styles that have come to define rock 'n' roll graphics through his poster, concert, and album art designs. He also created the iconic imagery for many Broadway shows, including Follies, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, and more. 176 pages.

Robert Bannon: Rewind
(new album)
Recorded at Green Room 42. To include "Every Single Day" from Harmony, a "Mega Manilow Medley," "Once Before I Go," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," and "What You Own."

Yentl: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
(Legacy Recordings - new on CD/digital)
Soundtrack songs by Michel Legrand (music) and Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics). Disc 1 features the original Yentl soundtrack; and Disc 2 features 15 additional tracks: demos Barbra recorded in her living room on a stereo cassette deck to get the movie made, while also providing her narration. Demo recordings feature Barbra accompanied only by Michel Legrand on piano.

Week of October 17, 2023

Al Jolson: From Broadway to Hollywood
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/digital)
Thirty-five rare performances from producer Chip Deffaa's personal collection–including tracks never before released–by the legendary showman who was always billed as "the World's Greatest Entertainer." Audio restoration by Scott Gordon. Graphic design by Frank Dain.

Back to the Future: The Musical Deluxe Edition
(Masterworks Broadway - new on 2 CDs)
OLC recording of the score that includes new songs by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside hit songs from the movie, plus bonus disc of 13 demos and early versions: "It's Only a Matter of Time," "Wherever We're Going" (Showcase Version), "Hello, Is Anybody Home?," "It Works," "Cake (And Eat It Too)," "It's What I Do," "Good at Being Bad," "Future Boy," "One Way Street," "Time Travel Is a Dangerous Thing," "Connections," "When You're Really Cool," "For the Dreamers." Cast includes Roger Bart and Olly Dobson, Hugh Coles, Rosanna Hyland, Cedric Neal, Aidan Cutler, and Courtney-Mae Briggs. Expanded booklet.

Chris Botti: Vol. 1
(Blue Note - new on CD/digital)
New renditions of "Danny Boy," "Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered," "Two for the Road," "Paris" (with John Splithof), "Blue in Green," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Time On My Hands," "My Funny Valentine," "Fix You," "Old Folks." Features performances by violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, and others. Produced by David Foster.

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!
(new digital album)
London cast recording of score by Matthew Floyd Jones and Jon Brittain. Bronté Barbém, Rebekah Hinds, Imelda Warren-Green, Jodie Jacobs, and TJ Lloyd. Now on stage at HOME Theatre 1, in Manchester.

Keep Walkin': Singles, Demos & Rarities 1965-1978
(Light in the Attic - new on CD/Vinyl/digital/8-track Tape)
Exploring the lesser-known gems from Nancy Sinatra's catalog through B-sides, rare singles, covers, demos, and previously-unreleased recordings. "The City Never Sleeps at Night," "The Last of the Secret Agents," "My Baby Cried All Night Long," "Shades, in Our Time," "Love Eyes," "Rockin' Rock and Roll," "This Town," "Tony Rome," "100 Years," "See the Little Children," "Something Pretty" *, "Do I Hear a Waltz" *, "Drummer Man, Zodiac Blues," "Highway Song," "Are You Growing Tired of My Love," "Flowers in the Rain," "Glory Road," "Ain't No Sunshine," "Easy Evil," "Sugar Me," "Kinky Love," "Dolly and Hawkeye," "I Just Can't Help Believing" *. * = previously unreleased. Remastered by John Baldwin

Michael Ball: Different Aspects, A Memoir
(Blink Publishing - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Michael Ball takes the reader backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while diving back into memories to explore that moment in his twenties when the world was at his feet and his life changed beyond recognition. 304 pages.

Public/Private: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater
(Applause - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Gail Merrifield. Memoir blending a behind-the-scenes history about New York City's Public Theater with an engrossing account of her life working alongside her husband, the Public's founder Joe Papp. 392 pages.

Right This Way: A History of the Audience
(Applause - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By Robert Viagas. Pop history of audiences through the ages. Walks us through the different types of audiences and the history of their changing behaviors, what science has to say about how our brains respond to what we experience, how technology will continue to shape audiences, and why, during COVID-19, people risked a deadly virus to be part of a crowd. Drawing on perspectives from critics, performers, scholars, and many others. Audiobook narrated by Timothy Frost. 256 pages.

Week of October 10, 2023

Anything Goes
(JAY Records - new CD-R/digital album)
Original London revival cast recording of score by Cole Porter. Marian Montgomery, James Kenney, Valerie Vardon, Janet Mahoney, Michael Segal, Bernard Sharpe, Peter Honri, Michael Malnick, April Ashton, Jan Cave, Vivian Sotkes. "Overture," "You're the Top," "Bon Voyage," "It's Delovely," "Heaven Hop," "Friendship," "Let's Do It," "Anything Goes," "Public Enemy Number One," "Let's Step Out," "Let's Misbehave," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," "All Through the Night," "Be Like the Bluebird," "Take Me Back to Manhattan," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Finale (You're the Top/Anything Goes)" DIGIMIX. Released 9/8/23.

Cinderellas of West 53rd Street: Stories from the Legendary Rehearsal Club
(BearManor Media - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By TRC Charter Alums. Foreword by Blythe Danner. National network of Rehearsal Club "Cinderellas" (coined by TV Guide in the 1950s) came together to tell their stories, spanning four decades, 1940s - 1970s. Captures New York City and Broadway history while charting the journey leading to The Rehearsal Club's incorporation in 2019. Carol Burnett, Blythe Danner and others are recognizable, well-known RC Alums. 264 pages. Hardcover released 4/15/23. Audiobook on CD and Audible Audiobook with bonus materials to be released in January 2024.

C'mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Hardcover Book)
By David Fantle and Tom Johnson. Foreword by Savion Glover. A comprehensive study of this 1950 motion picture, from start to finish and after its release. The authors discuss in detail the contributions of the cast (which included Gloria DeHaven, Eddie Bracken, Phil Silvers, and Marjorie Main), the director (Charles Walters), the producer (Joe Pasternak), the script writers (George Wells and Sy Gomberg), the songwriters (which included Harry Warren and Mack Gordon), and top MGM executives (Louis B. Mayer and Dore Schary). Features extensive interviews, conducted by the authors, with Kelly, Walters, Warren, and others, who shared their recollections of making the movie. Additional special section called "Taking Stock" that buttonholes numerous contemporary dancers, singers, choreographers, musicians, and even Garland impersonators for their take on Summer Stock, its stars, and any enduring legacy they think the film might have. From Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ben Vereen, and Tommy Tune to Garland's and Kelly's daughters, Lorna Luft and Kerry Kelly Novick, respectively, they offer their unique perspective on the film and its stars. 304 pages.

Michael Lee Brown: Way It Used to Be
(new EP)
Michael Lee Brown (Dear Evan Hansen) original songs. "Way It Used to Be," "Lettin' It Play," "Life Can Be."

Reviewing the Situation: the British Musical from Noël Coward to Lionel Bart
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By John Snelson. Traces what made shows like Oliver!, Me and My Girl, The Dancing Years, Bless the Bride and Expresso Bongo successes in the West End and how their qualities define a uniquely British interpretation of the genre. Detailed case studies, such as The Boy Friend and Bitter Sweet. 208 pages. Released 10/5/23.

Seriously Mad: Mental Distress and the Broadway Musical
(Univ of Michigan Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Aleksei Grinenko. An account of stage musicals' engagement with historically significant theories about mental distress, illness, disability, and human variance in the United States. Shows how theater dramatized serious medical conditions and social problems. Among the many Broadway productions discussed are Next to Normal, A Strange Loop, Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha, Dear World, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy, Oklahoma!, and Lady in the Dark. 280 pages.

Sideways The Musical
(Lakeshore Records/Broadway Records - new on CD)
Original cast recording of score by Anthony Leigh Adams and Rex Pickett. Devin Archer, Ruby Lewis, Ryan Quinn, Emily Goglia, James Byous, Juliette Goglia, Britton Sparkman and Rebecca Jade. "God of the Grape," "There Is Hope," "Hittin' the Road," "Cheap Champagne," "The Life of Wine," "Stomping the Grapes," "No Matter How Low We Go," "Alone," "Infidelity," "Drink a Memory," "New Day," "You're Not the One," "Locked and Loaded," "The Joke's on You," "Without a Man," "On the Ropes," "Drink a Memory / The Life of Wine," "Bacchanal." Digital version released 8/18/23.

Week of October 3, 2023

Audrey Silver: Oklahoma
(Messy House Records - new album)
New from jazz vocalist/flautist Audrey Silver. Songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Arrangements by Bruce Barth. Liner notes by WIll Friedwald. "Oklahoma," "Many a New Day," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "I Cain't Say No,""The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Out of My Dreams," "People Will Say We're in Love," "Kansas City," "Boys and Girls Like You and Me."

Backstage: Portraits of Actors at Work in the Theatre
(Lannoo Publishers - Hardcover Book)
Series of photographs by Simon Annand behind the scenes in London theaters, capturing actors before they go on stage. Foreword by Cate Blanchett. 256 pages.

Climb Way Up
(new digital album)
Original cast recording of score by Graham Lappin. Graham Lappin, Anna Stolli, Alex Cosgriff, and Sarah Pearson. Arrangements and musical direction by Tom Piezcora. Piezcora on piano, Rachel Newbold on cello, Emily MacArthur on reeds, and Edgar Langley on guitar. The song cycle was produced at Hope Mill Theatre in the U.K. Released 10/1/23.

Garland - That's Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland Volume 1
(BearManor Media - new Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Lawrence Schulman. Foreword by John H. Haley. Afterword by James Fisher. Part of two-volume set. Detailed, illustrated study that covers Schulman's writings on Garland between 1993 and 2023 that concentrate on her recordings. Utilizes published articles, reviews, liner notes, interviews, program notes, talks, and prefaces. Includes all the facts but does not exclude amusing anecdotes and unsettling stories that shed light on this complicated artist. 294 pages. Released 7/10/23.

Garland - That's Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland Volume 2
(Bear Manor Media - new Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Lawrence Schulman. Foreword by John H. Haley. Volume 2 of set See previous description. 250 pages. Released 7/7/23.

J Is for Judy: Classic Hollywood's Leading Ladies from A to Z
(Doubleday Books for Young Readers - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By John Robert Allman. Illustrations by Peter Emmerich. From Audrey Hepburn to Zsa Zsa Gabor, a star-studded alphabet book featuring the greatest ladies of the classic era of American movies (from the creators of "A Is for Audra and B Is for Broadway"). Hollywood history, spellbinding scenes, captivating costumes, and sparkling sets. Reading age 3 - 7 years. 48 pages.

Judy Garland: The Two-A-Day Is Back In Town, Closing Night at the Palace, February 24, 1952
(JSP - new on CD)
Produced by John Stedman. Remastered by John H. Haley. New liner notes by Lawrence Schulman and eyewitness account by singer-pianist Charlie Cochran. Based on a new transfer and restoration of original acetate transcription discs and other sources. "After You've Gone" (Hugh Martin, piano) Unknown other night, "Over the Rainbow" (concluding instrumental), "Auld Lang Syne" (audience), Judy introduces Lauritz Melchior, "Liza" (Hugh Martin, piano), "Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" (Hugh Martin, piano), "Love" (Hugh Martin, piano), "Over the Rainbow" (instrumental), "Over the Rainbow," "The Trolley Song" (instrumental), "A Couple of Swells" (Judy & Jack McClendon), "What Next? What'll She Do Now?" (Judy's Boyfriends), "Get Happy" (Judy & her Boyfriends), "This is Our Spot" (Judy's Boyfriends), Introduction of Hugh Martin; Judy's Olio, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody," "Judy at the Palace Medley," "Call the Press/On the Town" (Judy & her Boyfriends), "Chorus introduction" (Judy's Boyfriends), "Overture" (first release)."

Lucie Arnaz: Live at the Purple Room
(new album on CD/digital)
Lucie Arnaz recorded live at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Songs include "Opening: There's No Business Like Show Business / Got a Lot of Livin' to Do)," "Out of My Dreams," "Poor Everybody Else," "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun: Annie-Jones Beach," "I Got Lost in His Arms," "They're Playing My Song," "I Still Believe in Love," "Who's the Man," "Loose Ends," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Wherever He Ain't," "What Was a Woman to Do," "He Just Happened to Me," "No Time at All," "There's No Business Like Show Business" (Bows). Also includes patter tracks. Accompanied by Ron Abel. Released 7/17/23.

Norbert Leo Butz: King of Hearts
(new EP)
"King of Hearts," "Mission Bell," "Natalie," "Nine 2 Five," "I Stayed Up All Night with You." Released 9/28/23.

Patrick Stewart - Making It So: A Memoir
(Gallery Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audio CD)
Sir Patrick Stewart memoir. From his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim. Audio version read by the author. 480 pages.

South
(new digital album)
Recording of original acoustic musical written and performed by Florencia Iriondo. Currently being presented at SoHo Playhouse. Released 9/26/23.

Week of September 26, 2023

Ann Hampton Callaway: Finding Beauty, Originals Vol. 1
(Shanachie - new on CD/digital)
Ann Hampton Callaway album of collection of original compositions and collaborations. "The Moon Is a Kite," "Look for the Love," "Forever and a Day," "Love and Let Love" (with Kurt Elling) "Information Please," "You Can't Rush Spring" (with Tierney Sutton), "Finding Beauty," "Revelation," "Hold You in This Song," "Stealin' Away," "New Eyes," "At the Same Time," "Wherever You Are," "If I Were," "Be the Light," "Perfect."

Ben Jones: I Think We Should See Other People
(new album)
Cabaret singer Ben Jones sings break-up songs from his tour, recorded live. "Introduction / L-O-V-E," "Down with Love," "Tainted Love," "I Wanna Be Around," The Book of Midwestern, "Turn It Off," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," Millennials, "When I Was Your Man," "A Case of You," Sutton Foster, "Sensitive Song," "What Am I Doin'?," Rock, Paper, Scissors, "Killing Time," "With Every Breath I Take / Losing My Mind," "I Never Thought I'd Break," I Think We Should See Other People, "You'll Be Back," Low Risk, "Kiss Her Now," "The Joke."

Denny Zeitlin: Crazy Rhythms: Exploring George Gershwin
(new on CD/digital)
Pianist/composer/improviser Denny Zeitlin. "Summertime," "How Long Has This Been Going On?," "S'wonderful," "Bess You Is My Woman Now," "It Ain't Necessarily So," "By Strauss," "The Man I Love," "My Man's Gone Now," "I've Got a Crush on You," "Fascinating Rhythm," "I Was Doing All Right." Released 6/6/23.

Exorcistic
(new digital album)
"Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of "The Exorcist". Cast recording of score by Michael Shaw Fisher. Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013 Best Musical-winner. Nick Bredosky, Brian Logan Dales, Kim Dalton, Frankie Grande, Emma Hunton, Mitchell Gerrard Johnson, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Jesse Merlin, Michael Shaw Fisher, Leigh Wolf, Gabby Sanalitro. Released 5/26/23.

Guys and Dolls
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
2023 London cast recording of score by Frank Loesser. Cast includes Daniel Mays, Cedric Neal, Andrew Richardson, Celinde Schoenmaker, and Marisha Wallace. Produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr., Charlie Rosen and Tom Brady, and co-produced by Van Dean and Emily Loesser. Executive produced by Accidental Jacket, Matt Britten and Andrew Paradis. CD format to be released 10/27/23.

"If This Is Life"
(new digital single)
Ingrid Michaelson sings a song from her score for the new musical The Notebook.

Maud Hixson: Permanent Moonlight: Songs of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett
(new on CD/digital)
Collection of songs by multi-faceted composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. "Early to Bed," "No One But ," "Come Buy," "I'll Always Leave the Door a Little Open," "Let's Go and Live in the Country," "The Bird's Lament," "I Never Went Away," "Soliloquy," "Song of Shadows," "Goodbye for Now." Released 9/2/23.

Mathew V: Anything Goes
(new on CD/digital/vinyl)
Vancouver-based jazz singer Mathew V. "Moon River," "Big Spender," "At Last," "Anything Goes," "The Man I Love," "My Boy," "Georgia on My Mind," "Don't Rain on My Parade," "Mamma Mia." Released 4/14/23.

Millennials Are Killing Musicals
(Yellow Sound Label / Brainstorm Records - new digital album)
Out of the Box Theatrics Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Nico Juber. Cast includes Kristolyn Lloyd, Max Crumm. 16 songs from the show. Album produced by Michael Croiter and Nico Juber. Co-producers include Catherine Gray, Debra Smalley, and Kelly Ann Winget. Cody Lassen is Executive Producer. Released 9/15/23.

Rogers: The Musical
(new digital album)
Fictional Broadway musical in the Marvel Cinematic Universe media franchise, centered on the life of Steve Rogers / Captain America. Music: Alan Menken, Marc Shaiman, Christopher Lennertz. Lyrics: David Zippel, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Jordan Peterson, Christopher Lennertz, Alex Karukas. Book: Hunter Bell. Bella Hicks, Alex Karukas, Luke Monday, Matthew Selby, Krystle Rose Simmons, Rachel Wirtz. "U.S. Opening Night," "I Want You," "Star-Spangled Man," "Just One Dance (Preprise 1)," "Star-Spangled Man (Reprise)/Just One Dance (Preprise 2)," "What You Missed7," "Save The City," "Save The City (Playoff)," "End of the Line," "Just One Dance," "Rogers: The Musical Finale/Save The City (Reprise)," "Rogers: The Musical (Playoff)."

Sondheim: His Life, His Shows, His Legacy
(Black Dog & Leventhal - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Stephen M. Silverman. "Offers a witty multidimensional look at the musical genius ..." Explores the bond between Sondheim and his audiences ... examines the challenging Sondheim works that continue to develop devoted new followings. "... a lavish, highly engrossing documentation of the dynamic force who reshaped twentieth-century American musical history." 304 pages. Released 9/19/23.

The Time Traveller's Wife
(Sony Masterworks - new album)
Original cast recording of score by Joss Stone and Dave Stewart (the book is by Lauren Gunderson). The show is opening at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End in October 2023. Cast includes David Hunter, Joanna Woodward, Tim Mahendran, Hiba Elchikhe, Ross Dawes, and Eve Corbishley. "Prologue," "Masterpiece," "Wait for Me," "One Day," "Damn Fool Love," "I See Her," "Who Are We," "Entr'acte," "Journeyman," "This Time," "A Woman's Intuition," "I'm in Control," "Make It New," "On and On," "Love Wins the Day," "Story of Love" (Bonus Track).

Week of September 12, 2023

Adrienne Kennedy: Collected Plays & Other Writings
(Library of America - Hardcover Book)
Marc Robinson, editor. Collected edition of Adrienne Kennedy's wide-ranging writings, spanning six decades and including ten unpublished works: the early surrealistic one-acts A Lesson in Dead Language and A Rat's Mass; works like A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White and Film Festival: The Day Jean Seberg Died that reveal Kennedy's longstanding fascination with Hollywood and film culture; Ohio State Murders, one of several plays featuring her protagonist Suzanne Alexander and the first of her plays to be staged - in 2022 - on Broadway; Sleep Deprivation Chamber, a searing indictment of racially motivated police violence based on real-life incidents involving her son, who co-wrote the play; and her adaptations of works by Euripides, Flaubert, and John Lennon, reimagined. 995 pages.

Alfie Boe - Face the Music: My Story
(new Kindle Edition/Audiobook)
English stage actor/singer Alfie Boe (La bohème, Les Misérables) memoir. Hardcover edition currently has a UK release on the same date.

Back to the Future: The Musical Piano/Vocal Selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Digital)
Songs from the film plus 14 more from the cast recording arranged in standard piano/vocal format with the melody in the piano part. Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. 144 pages. Released 6/1/23.

Band Geeks: A New Musical
(Yellow Sound Label / Brainstorm Records - new digital album)
Studio album of complete score by Gaby Alter, Tommy Newman, and Mark Allen (book of the music is by Newman and Gordon Greenberg). All 19 songs from the musical, plus two bonus tracks. Cast includes Lindsay Mendez, Jared Gertner, Ruthie Ann Miles, Douglas Lyons, Patti Murin, Alex Gemignani. Produced by Michael Croiter and Gaby Alter. Released 9/8/23.

The Big Time
(Concord Theatricals - new digital album)
Studio recording of score Douglas J. Cohen (book of the musical is by Douglas Carter Beane). Santino Fontana, Debbie Gravitte, Raymond Bokhour, Jackie Hoffman, Michael McCormick, Diane Phelan, and Will Swenson. Accompanied by Tony Kadleck, Manuel Ruiz, Scott Wendholt, Brian Pareschi, Jason DeBord, Dave Phillips, Sean McDaniel, Sara Jacovino, Jason Jackson, Jen Hinkle, Jack Schatz, Steve Kenyon, Bryan Cook, Scott Kreitzer, Alden Banta and Mark Thrasher. Orchestrations by August Eriksmoen. Additional arrangements by Noah Landis, music direction by Eric Stern, music coordination by Bryan Cook and music preparation by Michael Pacifico and Jonathan Bauerfeld. Produced by August Eriksmoen and Douglas J. Cohen. Released 9/8/23.

The Father and the Assassin
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Score for the National Theatre production, original music by Siddhartha Khosla. Additional music by David Shrubsole. Released 9/8/23.

How to Dance in Ohio
(new EP)
OBC recording of score by Jacob Yandura and Rebekah Greer Melocik. Cast includes Desmond Edwards, Amelia Fei, Madison Kopec, Liam Pearce, Imani Russell, Conor Tague, and Ashley Wool. "Under Control," "Getting Ready for the Dance," "So Much in Common," "Building Momentum." Recorded at Flux Studios. Previews begin 11/15/23 at the Belasco Theatre. Orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin. Released 9/6/23.

Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy
(Smart Pop - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Charles Busch. Anecdotal account of the artist's journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood as a playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer. Features rare photos. 288 pages.

The Music for Victory at Sea: Richard Rodgers, Robert Russell Bennett, and the Making of a TV Masterpiece
(Univ of Rochester - new hardcover book)
By George J. Ferencz. Explores the creation of NBC-TV's landmark 1952-53 WWII documentary series, with particular attention to its evocative Rodgers-Bennett score. Chronicles "Victory"'s gestation and production at NBC, its reception, the series' afterlife in syndication and home video, and the score's "Gold Record" sales success on RCA records; plus examinging each episode in turn, focusing on how the Bennett-scored music pairs with screen action. Every transformation of the much-used Rodgers themes is cited, along with the episodes' musical inter-relationships. The hundreds of musical examples generously sample the score's 11½ hours of music. 386 pages.

New York, New York OBC
(Wine & Peaches - new on CD)
Cast recording of 2023 Broadway musical. Score by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Lin-Manuel Miranda. To feature the show's complete score, comprising 90 minutes of music, including orchestral interludes. Cast includes Colton Ryan, Anna Uzele, Clyde Alves, John Clay III, Janet Dacal, Ben Davis, Oliver Prose as Alex Mann, Angel Sigala, Emily Skinner. "Morning in New York," "Cheering for Me Now," "A Major Chord," "New York in Summer," "Better Than Before," "One of the Smart Ones," "Gold," "Wine and Peaches," "I Love Music," "My Own Music," "I'm What's Happening Now," "New York in the Rain," "A Simple Thing Like That," "Can You Hear Me?," "Happy Endings /Let's Hear It for Me," "New York in the Snow," "Marry Me / Act 1 Finale," "Along Comes Love," "San Juan Supper Club," "A Quiet Thing," "New York at Night," "A Quell' Amor," "Sorry I Asked," "But the World Goes ‘Round," "New York Concerto," "Music, Money, Love," "Light," "New York, New York," "Bonus tracks: "Can You Hear Me?: (original demo performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda & John Kander), "Along Comes Love (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "Wine and Peaches" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (cast album version, instrumental). Album produced by Michael Croiter, Sam Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda; co-produced by Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Craig Balsam. Digital version released 6/30/23.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
(Chandos - new on 2 CDs/digital/2-LP vinyl)
First complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein score in the original Robert Russell Bennett orchestration, restored by Bruce Pomahac, Overture to Exit Music. Cast includes Nathaniel Hackmann, Laurey Sierra Boggess, Jud Fry Rodney Earl Clarke, Jamie Parker, Louise Dearman, Sandra Marvin, Nadim Naaman, Leo Roberts, Juan Jackson, Will Richardson, Sejal Keshwala. Sinfonia of London with John Wilson conducting. Media details: double hybrid SACD – CHSA 5322; limited edition double vinyl – ABRD 5322 (1,000 numbered copies). Recorded in Dolby ATMOS and available in spatial audio.sinfoniaoflondon.com

The Sondheim Project: Sara Shiloh Rae & Bluebird Junction
(digital album)
Vocalist Sara Shiloh Rae with Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, Mike Robinson on guitar, Jacob Jolliff on mandolin, Molly Aronson on cello, Myles Sloniker on bass, and Max Hoetzel on banjo. "Send in the Clowns," "Broadway Baby," "Sooner or Later," "The Miller's Son," "Ladies Who Lunch." Arrangements by Myles Sloniker Released 3/13/23.

Stories: songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein
(new EP)
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (India Carney), "Impossible" (Hunter), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Mario Jose), "My Favorite Things" (Maeve Touhey). Released 8/25/23.

Veronica Swift
(Mack Avenue - on CD/digital/vinyl)
Co-produced by Swift, Brian Viglione, and Mariano Aponte. "I Am What I Am" (digital and CD only, "Closer," "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me," "The Show Must Go On," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "In the Moonlight," "Severed Heads," "Je Veux Vivre," "Chega de Saudade," "Keep Yourself Alive," "Don't Rain On My Parade." Accompanists include Adam Klipple, Randy Waldman, Chris Whiteman, Samson Schmitt, Luisito Quintero, Austin Patterson, Antoine Silverman, Pierre Blanchard, Philip Norris, Alex Claffy, Antonio Licusati, Felix Maldonado, Troy Roberts, David Leon, Benny Benack III, James Sarno, Javier Nero, Ludovic Bier, Carolynne Framil, and David Mann.

Week of September 5, 2023

Bing and Billie and Frank and Ella and Judy and Barbra
(Chicago Review Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Dan Callahan. Interlocking story of the lives and careers American songbook interpreters Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand. 384 pages.

Brainteasers for Broadway Geniuses: 500 Puzzlers to Perplex Even the Biggest Fans
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
By Peter Filichia. Foreword by Richard Maltby Jr. Brainteasers that require more than an ordinary knowledge of Broadway facts that will send even the most seasoned theater lovers looking for answers. Kindle version to be released 9/15/23. 232 pages.

Broadway Decoded: Musical Theatre’s Forgotten References
(Applause Books - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas Hischak. Guide to fifty popular musicals from the comedy classics of the 1930s and 1940s to the frequently-produced darlings of modern theater. Kindle version to be released 9/15/23. 314 pages.

A Collective Cy: Jeff Harnar Sings Cy Coleman
(PS Classics - new on CD/digital)
Adapted from Jeff Harner's stage show. Alex Rybeck conducts a full orchestra. 17 songs with music by Cy Coleman. "You Fascinate Me So," "My Personal Property / My City," "It Amazes Me" (with Sean Harkness), "I've Got Your Number" (with Ann Hampton Callaway), "With Every Breath I Take," "Rhythm of Life" (with Nicolas King & Danny Bacher), "The Best Is Yet to Come," "(Doop Doo-De-Oop) A Doodlin' Song" (with Jay Leonhart & Alex Rybeck), "Some Kind of Music," "So Little Time," "Our Private World" (with Liz Callaway), "Witchcraft," "The Rules of the Road / Come Summer / I'm Way Ahead," "If My Friends Could See Me Now." Two tracks, "I've Got Your Number" and "Witchcraft" have been released early.

Harmony
(Ghostlight Records - new album)
2022 Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. Cast includes Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Jessie Davidson, and Ana Hoffman. "Overture," "Harmony," "And What Do You See?," "This Is Our Time," "Your Son Is Becoming a Singer," "Every Single Day," "How Can I Serve You Madam?," "The Wedding," "Home," "We're Goin' Loco!," "Hungarian Rhapsody #20," "Come to the Fatherland!," "Where You Go," "In This World," "Threnody," "Stars in the Night." Released 8/31/23. CD to be released 11/17/23.

How to Survive a Killer Musical: Agony and Ecstasy on the Road to Broadway
(Applause - Hardcover/Kindle Edition)
By Douglas J. Cohen. Chronicles Cohen's decade-long quest to bring No Way to Treat a Lady to the stage–writing, re-writing, and shepherding it across the US and Europe amidst all manner of adversity and plain rotten luck. A portrait of passion, persistence, and resilience. Cast of characters includes an Oscar-winning screenwriter who invites Cohen to his personal screening room for a marathon midnight writing session; a Tony Award-winning director making his comeback after a horrific accident renders him a quadriplegic; and a celebrated, volatile British director who inspires a fruitful collaboration in London, only to later leave carnage in his wake. Catastrophes abound, including the near-fatal stabbing of a female lead in rehearsal and an onstage accident incapacitating another leading lady—leaving only the author to go on in her place. 272 pages.

Some Like It Hot OBC
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - new double vinyl LP)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Marc Shaiman (music/lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics). Cast includes Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks, and Kevin Del Aguila. "What Are You Thirsty For?," "You Can't Have Me (If You Don't Have Him)," "Vamp!," "I'm California Bound," "A Darker Shade of Blue," "Take It Up a Step," "Zee Bap," "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee," "Poor Little Millionaire!," "Some Like It Hot," "Let's Be Bad," "Dance the World Away," "Fly, Mariposa, Fly," "You Coulda Knocked Me Over with a Feather," "He Lied When He Said Hello," "Ride Out the Storm," "Baby, Let's Get Good." Produced by Scott M. Riesett and Marc Shaiman.

Sweeney Todd 2023 revival cast
(Reprise Records - new digital album)
Score by Stephen Sondheim. Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Jordan Fisher, Gaten Matarazzo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria Bilbao, Jamie Jackson, John Rapson, Nicholas Christopher And Jeanna De Waal. "Prelude," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "No Place Like London," "The Barber and His Wife," "The Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "My Friends," "Green Finch and Linnet Bird," "Ah, Miss," "Johanna," "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," "The Contest," "Wait," "Kiss Me (Pt. 1)," "Ladies in Their Sensitivities," "Kiss Me (Pt. 2)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 1)," "Pretty Women (Pt. 2)," "Epiphany," "A Little Priest," "God, That's Good!," "Johanna (Act 2 Sequence)," "By the Sea," "The Letter," "Not While I'm Around," "Parlor Song," "City on Fire!," "Searching," "The Judge's Return," "Final Scene," "The Barber and His Wife (Reprise)," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Finale)." Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Music supervision by Alex Lacamoire.

Weeks August 22-29, 2023

Barbra Streisand: Live at Bon Soir
(Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings - new vinyl LP)
Live album recorded over three nights, November 4-6, 1962. What was to be a debut album was ultimately shelved in favor of the 1963 studio effort, The Barbra Streisand Album. Introduction by David Kapralik/"My Name Is Barbra," "Much More," "Napoleon," "I Hate Music," "Right as the Rain," "Cry Me a River," "Value," "Lover, Come Back to Me," Band Introductions, "Soon It's Gonna Rain," "Come to the Supermarket (In Old Peking)," "When the Sun Comes Out," "Happy Days Are Here Again," "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now," "A Sleepin' Bee," "I Had Myself a True Love," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?," "I'll Tell the Man In the Street," "A Taste of Honey," "Never Will I Marry," "Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me," "My Honey's Lovin' Arms," "I Stayed Too Long at the Fair." Remastered from original master tapes. Produced by Streisand with Martin Erlichman and Jay Landers. New liner notes written by Barbra Streisand. Previously released on CD/digital.

The Little Big Things
(new EP)
Studio recording of score by Nick Butcher (music/lyrics) and Tom Ling (lyrics). "Miles and Miles," "Guide You," "The Little Big Things." The musical, based on the memoir by Henry Fraser, starts a run next week at Soho Place in the West End.

Fixing the Musical: How Technologies Shaped the Broadway Repertory
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Douglas L. Reside (curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the NYPL). The author shows that it is no accident that the serious book musical with a fixed score developed in the 1940s, when commercially pressed and marketed record albums made it possible to record most of the score of a new musical in a fixed medium ... and Hamilton, a musical with dense lyrics and revolutionary musical style, would not have been as easily accessible to world audiences if most hadn't already had the opportunity to learn the score by listening to free digital streams of the original cast recording. He argues that the musicals we most remember are those which most effectively used their era's best recording and distribution technologies to document and share the work with those who would never see the original production on Broadway. 192 pages.

Harmony
(Ghostlight Records - new album)
2022 Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. Cast includes Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Jessie Davidson, and Ana Hoffman. Title song and "Every Single Day" tracks have been released.

Mary Bridget Davies: Freedom of My Mind
(LOML/ TJ Armand Music LLC - new digital album)
Acoustic blues rock album from Mary Bridget Davies (A Night with Janis Joplin), recorded live at Power Station NYC. Accompanied by Clint DeGanon on drums, Mark Berman on piano, Alex Prezzano on guitar, and Dave Richards on bass. Concert video release expected in the future.

The New Peggy
(new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Drew Larimore (book and lyrics) and J. Oconer Navarro (music and lyrics). Ann Harada, Daniel Marcus, Devin Ilaw, Deb Radloff, and Rachel Hardin. "If It Wasn't for Me," "I Coulda," "Closer / Higher / Thicker," "Gone," "Goat Song," "Now or Never," "The Perfect Cup," "The New Peggy," "This Morning," "Clocking Out," "Finale." Released 8/25/23.

Sideways The Musical
(Lakeshore Records/Broadway Records - new digital album)
Original cast recording of score by Anthony Leigh Adams and Rex Pickett. Devin Archer, Ruby Lewis, Ryan Quinn, Emily Goglia, James Byous, Juliette Goglia, Britton Sparkman and Rebecca Jade. "God of the Grape," "There Is Hope," "Hittin' the Road," "Cheap Champagne," "The Life of Wine," "Stomping the Grapes," "No Matter How Low We Go," "Alone," "Infidelity," "Drink a Memory," "New Day," "You're Not the One," "Locked and Loaded," "The Joke's on You," "Without a Man," "On the Ropes," "Drink a Memory / The Life of Wine," "Bacchanal." Released 8/18/23. CD version to be released 10/13/23.

August 15, 2023

Album
(Ghostlight Records - 5 LP vinyl box set)
Special vinyl release of Joe Iconis' Album featuring 70 artists and 45 songs, including the new bonus track "The Whiskey Song." Produced by Iconis, Ian Kagey, and Charlie Rosen, executive produced by Randi Zuckerberg, features music direction by Danielle Gimbal, and choir arrangements by Joel Waggoner.

August Wilson: A Life
(Simon & Schuster - new hardcover book/Kindle Edition)
Biography of August Wilson by Patti Hartigan, who interviewed Wilson many times before his death and traces his life from his childhood in Pittsburgh to Broadway. She also interviewed scores of friends, theater colleagues and family members, and conducted extensive research to tell the story of a writer who left an indelible imprint on American theater and opened the door for future playwrights of color. 592 pages.

Company, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods, Assassins
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital albums)
Four original cast albums of scores by Stephen Sondheim, newly remixed and remastered editions in both Sony's 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos immersive audio experiences, available at Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal. The last legacy project on which iconic composer and lyricist himself consulted. Sony's 360 Reality Audio format (not available at Apple Music) allows listeners to immerse themselves in a field of sound, using any pair of headphones. Individual sounds such as vocals, chorus, piano, guitar, bass and even sounds of the live audience can be placed in a 360 spherical sound field, giving artists and creators a new way to express their creativity. Dolby Atmos – available via Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL – is an immersive music experience that adds more space, clarity, and depth to your music. Instead of just hearing your music, it feels like you are inside the song. Masterworks Broadway.

Frank and Percy
(Methuen Drama - Paperback)
Play by Ben Weatherill. Published to coincide with the world premiere at Theatre Royal Windsor, in June 2023, starring Roger Allam and Ian McKellen. 80 pages. Kindle Edition released in July 2023.

Here's to the Ladies: Conversations with More of the Great Women of Musical Theater
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Eddie Shapiro's follow-up to Nothing Like a Dame and A Wonderful Guy. From twenty exclusive, never-before-seen interviews, detailed stories and reflections from conversations with Barbara Cook, Kelli O'Hara, Heather Headley, Faith Prince, Stephanie J. Block, Tonya Pinkins, and a host of others about what it means to be a leading lady on Broadway over the past fifty years. 400 pages. [Appears to have been released early.]

Idina Menzel: Drama Queen
(BMG - new on CD/digital)
Collaborations alongside global hitmakers Nile Rodgers, Jake Shears, Justin Tranter, Sir Nolan, Simon Wilcox, Laura Veltz, Jim Eliot, Maty Noyes, Mitch Allan, Lindy Robbins, Chantry Johnson, Michelle Zarlenga and more. Tracks include "Move" (released), "Beast," "Paradise" (with Nile Rodgers), "Make Me Hate Me," "Royalty," "My Love for Life," "Funny Kind of Lonely," "Dramatic," "Madison Hotel." Produced by Chantry Johnson and Mitch Allan. Vinyl version to be released 10/27/23.

Perry Como Sings Songs at the Supper Club
(Sepia Records - new on 2 CDs)
63 tracks never commercially recorded by Perry Como and performed on the Chesterfield Radio Show, The Supper Club between 1944-1948. Featuring the orchestras of Ted Steele and Lloyd Shaffer with vocal harmonies from The Satisfiers and The Modernaires.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
(new digital albums)
Four volumes of the original soundtrack for the roleplaying musical video game Stray Gods by songwriter, composer, musical director Austin Wintory. Three of the four albums, titled the Red, Blue and Green Editions, isolate the three color-coded "traits" the player chooses from among during the songs (co-written by Wintory, Tripod [Simon Hall, Steve Gates, Scott Edgar] and Montaigne). The fourth album, the Pantheon Edition, weaves together the three traits and also includes the game's original score, also by Wintory. Songs performed by Troy Baker, Anthony Rapp, Felicia Day, Janina Gavankar, and others. Released 8/10/23 alongside the debut of the game.

August 8, 2023

20 Seasons: Broadway Musicals of the 21st Century
(Routledge - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Amy S. Osatinsk. Catalogues, categorizes, and analyzes the 269 musicals that opened on Broadway from the 2000-2001 season through the 2019-2020 season. 228 pages.

Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance
(Univ of Kentucky Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Paul Broussard and Lisa Royère. Follows the American dance legend from her premature birth into a single-parent home in Springfield, Massachusetts, to her first Broadway performance at age fifteen, through her days as a blazing icon in the world of Hollywood, and finally, to her inspiring comeback. From rare documents, letters, and production files; and drawing on the authors' intimate personal relationships with Powell. 352 pages.

Here Lies Love
(Nonesuch - new 2-disc vinyl album)
Original 2010 recording of songs for David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's Here Lies Love. Performers include Cyndi Lauper, Steve Earle, Sharon Jones, Natalie Merchant, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson, St. Vincent, My Brightest Diamond, Nellie McKay, Martha Wainwright, Róisín Murphy, Santigold, and David Byrne. Disc 1: Side A: "Here Lies Love," "Every Drop of Rain," "You'll Be Taken Care Of," "The Rose of Tacloban," "A Perfect Hand"; Disc 1: Side B: "Eleven Days," "When She Passed By," "Walk Like a Woman," "Don't You Agree?," "Pretty Face," "Ladies in Blue

Rose Marie Sings: The Complete Mercury Recordings & More
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
First ever CD of TV and stage personality Rose Marie issued to celebrate her centenary and released with the support of her family. Featuring recordings from four decades (1938-1966), including previously unreleased tracks. Liner notes by her daughter and photos from the family archives. 29 tracks.

August 1, 2023

Anya Turner and Robert Grusecki: Mid-Century Modern
(new on CD/digital)
The duo's ninth studio album. "Mid-Century Modern," "Small Town," "The Sound of My Voice," "Our Little Secret," "Piñata," "I Love You Still," "Weird Little Club," "Insanity," "Can't Get There From Here," "One Last Time."

Fat Ham
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Play by James Ijames. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Premiere at Public Theater in May 2022. 112 pages.

"Harmony"
(Ghostlight Records - new digital single)
Title track from upcoming Off-Broadway cast recording for Harmony, score by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman.

Out For Blood: A Cultural History of Carrie the Musical
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Chris Adams. Inside story of Carrie The Musical featuring contributions from over eighty original cast members, creatives, crew and audience members. Patches together memories, archive material and contemporary reports. The author also is the co-creator and co-host of the Out for Blood: The Story of Carrie the Musical podcast. 304 pages.

Rescuing CATS: The Musical That's Better Than You Think
(New Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller. "No matter how you approach it, Cats is so much more than a silly dance revue based on some silly poems, so much more than a punchline ... Cats is literally about life and death." 116 pages.

Small Town Sins: A Novel
(Henry Holt & Co. - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Debut novel by playwright/critic/New York Times editor Ken Jaworowski. Suspense thriller. 272 pages.

The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia
(Rowman & Littlefield - Paperback Book)
By Rick Pender. Paperback version of 2021 book, with some revisions. Detailed and comprehensive reference devoted to musical theater's most prolific and admired composer and lyricist. Entries cover Sondheim's numerous collaborators; key songs; and major works. Also profiles the actors who originated roles and sang Sondheim's songs for the first time, including Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Mandy Patinkin, and Bernadette Peters. Features a detailed biographical entry for Sondheim, a chronology of his career, a listing of his many awards, and discussions of his opinions on movies, opera, and more. 652 pages.

July 25, 2023

Beasties: A Sci-Fi Rock Opera
(new digital album)
Original studio cast recording of score by Gary Sohmer (music and lyrics) and Bill Holloman (music). Cast includes Dave Bickler, Chris Farlowe, Barrence Whitfield, Liz Proteau. Orchestrated, arranged and co-written by Bill Holloman. Orchestrated and arranged by Bill Holloman. Double CD and Vinyl LP available in August.

Bonnie & Clyde
(Broadway Records - new album)
Cast album from 2022 West End production with score by Frank Wildhorn (music) and Don Black (lyrics). Cast includes Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage. Produced by Katy Richardson and Sam Featherstone. Recorded at Livingston Studios. BroadwayRecords.com

Brian Gari: I Grew Up Here
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
All songs written by Brian Gari except where noted. "Send Your Songs to Me"*, "Tell Your Sisters"**, "You Can Have Him Back," "Wedding Ring Guitar: Bg," "She's in No Rush to Love Me," "No Riding Today," "Try to Be Funny (Intended For the Broadway Musical "Late Nite Comic")," "Which One Do You Miss Most?," "What Does a Letter Mean?," "She Can't Get the Job Done," "I Grew Up Here Guitar, Piano: Bg," "Patron of the Arts," "I Don't Believe Her," "Legend of Town Hall," Bonus Track "Everybody Wants to Be Remembered" (from the Off Broadway Musical "Lyle"; music: Janet Gari, lyric: Toby Garson). Produced and arranged by Brian Gari and Peter Millrose. * recorded 4/1/76 at Lucas Warehouse NYC. **produced & arranged by BG & Jeff Olmsted.

La Cage Aux Folles (original Australian cast)
(new digital album)
1985 Australian cast recording of score by Jerry Herman. Previously available on vinyl. Cast includes Ronne Arnold, Jon Ewing, Arianthe Galani, Keith Michell, Geraldene Morrow, Gerry Sont. "With Anne on My Arm," "With You on My Arm," "Song on the Sand (La Da Da Da)," "La Cage Aux Folles," "I Am What I Am," "Song on the Sand (Reprise)," "Masculinity," "Look Over There," "Cocktail Counterpoint," "The Best of Times," "Finale: With You on My Arm; La Cage aux Folles; Song on the Sand; The Best of Times (Reprise)."

Frankenstein
(new digital album)
Soundtrack of Joe LoBianco film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical with a score by Eric B. Sirota. Cast includes Daniel Robert Burns, Marc Christopher, Grace Hwoang, Tim Bacskai, Ren King, Jay Lucas Chacon, Daryl Glenn, Lauren Coccaro, and Julie McNamara. "Victor's Coming Home," "Through the Seasons," "Once in a Dream," "Working," "God in Heaven (The Modern Prometheus)," "Heartbeat," "More Than a Mother," "Scared, Silent, Stare," "Guest List," "Life Must Go On," "Elizabeth," "Into the Light," "Though the Window," "Why?," "Trio," "Day of Wrath," "Vocalise," "Write by Candlelight," "Here, In My Heart," "I Can Dream Too," "Wedding Night," "Duet Reprise," "Heartbeat Reprise," "Elizabeth Forgive Me," "Victor’s Lament - Reprise," "I Tried to Fly," "Evil Fiend (Why Reprise)," "Oh, Frankenstein," "Creator's Creator," "End Title Music." Recorded at Tin Mirror Studios in Kings Park, New York. DVD of the film expected later this year.

Racing the Great White Way: Black Performance, Eugene O’Neill, and the Transformation of Broadway
(Univ of Michigan Press - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Katie N. Johnson. 270 pages.

School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Play by Jocelyn Bioh. Published to coincide with the UK premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Hampstead, in June 2023. 96 pages.

July 18, 2023

A Man of Much Importance: The Art and Life of Terrence McNally
(Applause Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Christopher Byrne. Biography of playwright and musical bookwriter Terrence McNally. Looks at his life and work against the backdrop of a dynamic theatrical culture, tracing the ways in which an artist grows and responds to reality. Based on interviews with McNally and with many of the artists with which he worked. 408 pages.

Selections from Salaam Medina: Tales of a Halfghan
(new EP)
Music and lyrics by Rona Siddiqui. Orchestrations by Siddiqui. Vocals by Sharone Sayegh, Jonathan Raviv, Sherz Aletaha, Angel Desai, Jamen Nanthakumar, Joe Joseph, and Meetu Chilana. Bband includes Justin Rothberg (guitar), Rob Jost (bass), Elena Bonomo (drums), Susan Mandel (cello), music direction/piano by Rebekah Bruce. Produced by Yellow Sound Lab. Has been produced at Playwrights Horizons and 54 Below, with an upcoming workshop at Playwrights Horizons in 2024.

July 4-11, 2023

Creating Back to the Future: The Musical
(Abrams - Hardcover Book)
By Michael Klastorin. Foreword by Bob Gale. About the creation of the musical that opened at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020, music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale (adapted from their original screenplay). Pairs exclusive, in-depth interviews with previously unpublished photography; excerpts from Bob Gale's personal journal; and a foreword by Gale to reveal and detail the years long process, and the creative ingenuity and technical innovation. 224 pages. Released 7/3/23.

The Flasher
(Real Gone Music - new vinyl LP)
First-ever reissue in any format soundtrack by Rupert Holmes and the band Pool-Pah for the 1973 X-rated film initially called Forbidden Under Censorship of the King, renamed The Flasher. Also includes four-page insert with rare photos and brand-new liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese drawing on interviews with Pool-Pah lead singer Lenie Colacino, bassist/trumpeter Bruce Handelman, guitarist/saxophonist Seth Handelman, guitarist Billye Arrington–and Rupert Holmes.

Other Lives: The Story Songs of Michael Colby
(JAY Records - new digital album/CD)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording. 2022 Urban Stages Theater (Winter Rhythms) cast. JAYRecords.com. Released 6/16/23

Some Like It Hot OBC
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - new on CD)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Marc Shaiman (music/lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics). Cast includes Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks, and Kevin Del Aguila. "What Are You Thirsty For?," "You Can't Have Me (If You Don't Have Him)," "Vamp!," "I'm California Bound," "A Darker Shade of Blue," "Take It Up a Step," "Zee Bap," "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee," "Poor Little Millionaire!," "Some Like It Hot," "Let's Be Bad," "Dance the World Away," "Fly, Mariposa, Fly," "You Coulda Knocked Me Over with a Feather," "He Lied When He Said Hello," "Ride Out the Storm," "Baby, Let's Get Good." Produced by Scott M. Riesett and Marc Shaiman. Released 7/7/23. Digital version released earlier. Vinyl version to be released 9/1/23.

June 27, 2023

Camelot
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music). Cast includes Andrew Burnap, Phillipa Soo, Jordan Donica, Dakin Matthews, Taylor Trensch, Marilee Talkington, Camden McKinnon, Anthony Michael Lopez, Fergie Philippe, and Danny Wolohan. Music director Kimberly Grigsby conducts a 30-piece orchestra. Original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang and original dance and choral arrangements by Trude Rittmann. Recording is produced by David Caddick and David Lai. Digital format released 6/2/23. BroadwayRecords.com

Lewberger the Wizard of Friendship
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Original cast recording of score from new musical by Hughie Stone Fish, Keith Habersberger and Alex Lewis. With special guests Wayne Brady, Alex Brightman and Dashaun Wesley.

Say, Darling OBC Deluxe Edition
(Stage Door Records - new 2-CD set)
OBC recording of score by Jule Styne (music) and Betty Comden (lyrics) and Adolph Green (lyrics ). Sid Ramin augmented the show arrangements for a full orchestra. Original Broadway cast album newly remastered from stereo reel to reel tape, plus bonus disc of cover recordings including tracks by Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Blossom Dearie, Perry Como and Tony Martin. Detailed sleeve notes by George Dansker. Limited edition release of 500 units only.

June 20, 2023

Dancing at Lughnasa
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Music Hannah Peel from the National Theatre production of Brian Friel's play. Featuring musicians Alice Allen, Joëlle Barker, Niamh Dunne, Seán Graham, Andrea Magee, Conal McDonagh and Hannah Peel. "Dancing at Lughnasa," "First Light," "Marconi's Voodoo," "The Mason's Apron," "Lough Anna," The Air Is Nostalgic," "Ceremony," "Floating in Isolation," "A Mirage of Sound," "The Mundy Sisters." Album produced by Hannah Peel.

Fanny Brice: Rare and Unreleased Recordings, Curated by Chip Deffaa
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/digital)
Rare performances from Deffaa's personal collection, some never before released. Audio restoration by Scott Gordon. Graphic design by Frank Dain. 18 tracks.

New York, New York OBC
(Wine & Peaches - new digital album)
Cast recording of 2023 Broadway musical. Score by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Lin-Manuel Miranda. To feature the show's complete score, comprising 90 minutes of music, including orchestral interludes. Cast includes Colton Ryan, Anna Uzele, Clyde Alves, John Clay III, Janet Dacal, Ben Davis, Oliver Prose as Alex Mann, Angel Sigala, Emily Skinner. "Morning in New York," "Cheering for Me Now," "A Major Chord," "New York in Summer," "Better Than Before," "One of the Smart Ones," "Gold," "Wine and Peaches," "I Love Music," "My Own Music," "I'm What's Happening Now," "New York in the Rain," "A Simple Thing Like That," "Can You Hear Me?," "Happy Endings /Let's Hear It for Me," "New York in the Snow," "Marry Me / Act 1 Finale," "Along Comes Love," "San Juan Supper Club," "A Quiet Thing," "New York at Night," "A Quell' Amor," "Sorry I Asked," "But the World Goes ‘Round," "New York Concerto," "Music, Money, Love," "Light," "New York, New York," "Bonus tracks: "Can You Hear Me?: (original demo performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda & John Kander), "Along Comes Love (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "Wine and Peaches" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (cast album version, instrumental). Album produced by Michael Croiter, Sam Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda; co-produced by Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Craig Balsam. Title track released 6/9/23. CD format expected in August.

Other Lives: The Story Songs of Michael Colby
(JAY Records - new on CD/digital)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording. Featuring Janet Aldrich, Bethe Austin, Ari Axelrod, Klea Blackhurst, Steven Bogardus, Ladonna Burns, David Edwards, Dan Hoy, Sean Mcdermott, Luke Naphat, Sarah Rice, Jane Seaman, Megan Styrna, Marianne Tatum, Maureen Taylor, Deborah Jean Templin, Deborah Tranelli, Joshua Turchin, And Stuart Zagnit, With Lauren Baker, Talia Cutulle and Heeya Kim. from the 2022 Urban Stages Theater (Winter Rhythms) cast. Composers include Andrea Colby, Ned Paul Ginsberg, Larry Hochman, Paul Katz, Peter Millrose, Gerald Jay Markoe, Alex Rybeck, Steven Silverstein, Joseph Thalken, and Herman Yabaloff. "Other Lives," "Changing Times," "Since I Fell," "Dream Park Lullaby," "Oh-Yo!," "Oh-Yo!," "Papiros'n," "Repeating," "That's My Pooch," "Backstage at the Vic," "Frank Kiley," "Carl's Song," "My Best," "That's a Wrap," "Junior," "Elevator Man," "Léocadia," "Christmas Every Day," "That She Could Write," "Growing Up at the Algonquin," "Other Lives" [Reprise]. Bonus Track: "Christmas Every Day." JAYRecords.com.

Six: Live On Opening Night OBC
(Absolute Label - new on CD)
Score by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Adrianna Hicks, Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Andrea Macasaet, Brittney Mack, Courtney Mack, Mallory Maedke, Mallory Maedke, Abby Mueller, Samantha Pauly. "Ex-Wives," "Ex-Wives [Reprise]," "But there's only one you need to hear from tonight..."," "No Way," "The One You've Been Waiting For," "Don't Lose Ur Head," "Heart of Stone," "Now, seeing as Henry was running out of women to marry in England..."," "Haus of Holbein," "So I guess you already know what happened next..."," "Get Down," "All You Wanna Do," "I Don't Need Your Love," "I Don't Need Your Love [Remix]," "SIX," "The MegaSIX," "Playout," "Heart of Stone [alternates version]" The Ladies in Waiting band: Julia Schade (music director/keyboard), Michelle Osbourne (bass), Kimi Hayes (guitars), Elena Bonomo (drums), and Mariana Ramirez (percussion). Produced by Paul Gatehouse, Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss, Sam Featherstone, and Tom Curran. Recorded live on opening night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Released earlier in digital format.

June 13, 2023

Aline MacMahon: Hollywood, the Blacklist, and the Birth of Method Acting
(Univ Press of Kentucky - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By John Strangeland. Biography of American stage and film (Dragonseed) actress Aline MacMahon (1899-1991), who was blacklisted in the 1950s. 352 pages.

Cambodian Rock Band
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by Lauren Yee. 96 pages.

Ride: A New Musical
(new digital album)
Original London cast recording of score by Jack Williams and Freya Catrin Smith. Cast includes Liv Andrusier and Yuki Sutton. "The World's Greatest Story," "Ride," "The Wager," "Across America," "On Board," "Everybody Loves A Lie," "By My Side," "The Charmed Existence of Fred Rose," "Miles Away From Boston," "Stranger," "Out of Time," "Ride the Momen." Released 6/9/23.

June 6, 2023

Camelot
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music). Cast includes Andrew Burnap, Phillipa Soo, Jordan Donica, Dakin Matthews, Taylor Trensch, Marilee Talkington, Camden McKinnon, Anthony Michael Lopez, Fergie Philippe, and Danny Wolohan. Music director Kimberly Grigsby conducts a 30-piece orchestra. Original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang and original dance and choral arrangements by Trude Rittmann. Recording is produced by David Caddick and David Lai. CD format expected June 30. BroadwayRecords.com Released 6/2/23.

Eleri Ward: Acoustic Sondheim: Live from Brooklyn
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Third in trilogy of acoustic versions of songs by Stephen Sondheim. Guest Bobby Conte. "Johanna" (Reprise), "Send in the Clowns," "Giants in the Sky," "Being Alive / Sorry Grateful," "Good Thing Going," "Move On" (with Bobby Conte), "Into the Woods Medley," "Sunday."

Heathers: The Musical
(Kalaidoscope Home Entertainment - new DVD (PAL)/Blu-ray)
West End cast performing musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Filmed live at its original London home, The Other Palace. Ailsa Davidson, Vivian Panka, Andy Fickman, Maddison Firth, Simon Gordon. Directed by Andy Fickman, with Gary Lloyd choreography. Estras: sing-along version (blu-ray exclusive); limited edition film poster; behind the wcenes at The Other Palace; and crew extended interviews. Two hours and 15 minutes. Most likely UK-only release.

Kimberly Akimbo
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Libretto for 2022 musical version of David Lindsay-Abaire's Kimberly Akimbo, with score by Jeanine Tesori. 120 pages.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel : Season 5
(Legacy Recordings - new on CD)
Music from the Amazon series. "Relax Max" (Dinah Washington), "I Love The Way You Say Goodnight" (Doris Day with The Page Cavanaugh Trio), "Everything Grows!" (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Cast), "Make My Kitchen Dream Come True" (Megan McGinnis), "Your Personal Trash Man Can" (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Cast), "What Can You Get A Nudist For Her Birthday" (Sarah King, Billy Stritch), "Never Ever Gonna Stop" (Emily Bergl), "Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf" (Barbra Streisand), "I Wanna Be Around..." (Tony Bennett), "Nancy (With The Laughing Face)" (Hank Azaria), "How to Handle a Woman" (Richard Burton), "I Happen To Like New York (From "The New Yorkers")" (Bobby Short), "Shy" (Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer), "I Stayed Too Long At The Fair" (Barbra Streisand), "Girls Talk" (Tegan and Sara), "The Final Minutes" (Rachel Brosnahan). Digital released 5/26/23. Vinyl LP upcoming 9/22/23.

Prima Facie: Special Edition
(Nick Hern Books - Paperback book/Kindle Edition)
Play by Suzie Miller. Special edition features the definitive version of the award-winning script, together with colour photos and exclusive additional content. 144 pages.

Shucked
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
Original Broadway cast recording of score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. Cast includes John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Grey Henson, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley, and Alex Newell. "Overture," "Corn," "Walls," "Walls (Reprise)," "Travelin' Song," "Bad," "Woman of the World," "Somebody Will," "Independently Owned," "Holy Shit," "Maybe Love," "Corn (Reprise)," "Entr'acte," "We Love Jesus," "Ok," "I Do," "Friends," "Best Man Wins," "Corn Mix," "Maybe Love (Reprise)," Bonus Tracks with Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally: "Friends" (Acoustic Worktape), "Maybe Love."Digital format released May 5.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane: A Star Reborn
(Scala Arts Publishers - Paperback Book)
By Pamela Hartshorne. Foreword by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Souvenir guide Brand to the world's oldest theater site in continuous use. Published to mark the reopening of the theater following the major renovation project which has restored the theater's Georgian glory. Tells the rich history of the theater and its many famous personalities and productions. 72 pages. Released 5/31/23.

When the British Musical Ruled the World
(Applause - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Robert Sellers, who gives his account of how Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Chess, and Miss Saigon changed the business of musical theater in the 1980s. With insightful, personal stories from cast members, set designers, musical supervisors, dancers, lighting designers, production managers, singers, and choreographers ... and the backstage drama, production nightmares, and financial woes that threatened to derail the shows at multiple points. 268 pages. Released 6/1/23.

May 23, 2023

Dance on the American Musical Theatre Stage: A History
(Routledge - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Ray Miller. Chronicles the development of dance, with an emphasis on musicals and the Broadway stage, in the United States from its colonial beginnings to performances of the present day. 304 pages.

I'll Drink to That!: Broadway's Legendary Stars, Classic Shows, and the Cocktails They Inspired
(Weldon Owen - Hardcover Book)
By Lawrence Maslon. Photographs by Joan Marcus. Mixes clever cocktails that pay homage to unforgettable Broadway shows–such as the Rainbow High from Evita and the Sidecar Named Desire–with authentic recipes for drinks that played supporting roles in beloved shows–like the legendary Vodka Stinger from Company–and shakes it up with a history of the cocktail on Broadway. 30 drink recipes. Featured throughout are images from intoxicating images of classic shows to portraits of effervescent stage celebrities to vintage liquor ads featuring Broadway stars. 176 pages.

The Little Mermaid
(Disney - new digital/LP)
Soundtrack from 2023 live-action film, starring Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy. Score by Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman (lyrics), Lin-Manuel Miranda (new lyrics).

Rodgers & Hammerstein South Pacific
(JAY Records - new on CD/digital)
DigiMIX digital surround recording of score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Cast includes Justino Diaz, Paige O'Hara, Pat Suzuki and Sean McDermott. Original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett. National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards. 37 tracks. JAYRecords.com.

May 16, 2023

All Wigged Out: The Musical
(Community Music, Inc. - new DVD)
2023 film directed by Tracy Walsh. Screenwriters Cathy Fink, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Marcy Marxer. Starring Marcy Marxer, Janet Cramer, Stacy McMichael. "Grammy-winner Marcy Marxer takes us on her journey through Breast Cancer and chemo enduced neuropathy, tempered by her wacky sense of humor and ability to make the personal universal. She triumphs with the love of her life, Cathy Fink."

Illegal: A New Musical
(new digital album)
Developmental cast recording of score by Skyler Chin and Sita Sunil. Cast includes Anna Stacy, Nicholas Leung, Subin Kara Ahn, Miguel Sutedjo, Skyler Chin, and Sita Sunil. 15 tracks. Released 5/12/23.

Jeff Goldblum: Plays Well With Others
(new vinyl LP)
With The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. "A Baptist Beat," "Don't Fence Me in / Strollin'" (with Kelly Clarkson), "Moon River" (with Mattiel Brown), "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," "I Wanna Be Around" (with Rodrigo Amarante), "Lazy Afternoon" (with Freda Payne). Digital EP released 3/24/23.

Joanie Pallatto Accidental Melody
(Southport Records - new on CD)
Thirteen new songs from singer-songwriter Joanie Pallatto. With guitarist and co-producer Fareed Haque, percussionist Eric Hines, Juan Pastor on cajon and percussion, the acoustic bass of John Christensen, and pianist Bradley Parker-Sparrow. Achy Obejas contributed liner notes, with graphic design by Al Brandtner.

Kerry Ellis: Kings & Queens
(Westway Music - new on CD)
British singer/songwriter/actress Kelly Ellis (Wicked). "Kings & Queens," "Be Tender with Me Baby," "Battlefield" (with Sir Brian May), "I Will Find You," "Mean the World To Me" (with Newton Faulkner), "Big Wide World," "The Only One," "Fire & Rain," "Lemonade," "My All," "Love Wins," "Home Again." Recorded in LA and London. Produced by Mike Stevens. Released 5/12/23 in digital.

Kimberly Akimbo
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire. Victoria Clark, Steven Boyer, Justin Cooley, Alli Mauzey, Bonnie Milligan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan, Michael Iskander, Nina White. "Skater Planet," "Hello, Darling," "Make a Wish," "Anagram," "Better," "Father Time," "Happy for Her," "This Time," "How to Wash a Check," "Good Kid," "Hello, Baby," "Skater Planet (Reprise)," "Our Disease," "The Inevitable Turn," "Now," "How to Wash a Check (Reprise)," "Before I Go," "Hello, Sister," "Great Adventure." CD booklet features complete lyrics, color photography and liner notes by Washington Post theater writer Peter Marks. GhostlightRecords.com. Released earlier in digital format.

Matthew Scott: The Jesus Year a letter from my dad
(PS Classics - new on CD/digital)
Debut album. Expanded from the one-man show Matthew Scott has performed at Merkin Hall, O'Neill Center and at 54 Below, with newly expanded orchestrally, with arrangements written specifically for this recording by John Baxindine. Prologue: Oh, Very Young, "The World According to Snoopy," I Went Fishing With My Dad, 25 bullet points..., "Oh, Very Young," My mom and dad met when they were just kids..., "Our Day Will Come," My older brothers were popular..., "Captain Jack," I never got the whole birds and the bees speech..., "You're My Home," The 33rd year of life..., "There's Always Someone Cooler Than You," "Souvenir," A woman named Joan..., "Dreams Go By," Another family on the other end of New Jersey..., "When the Earth Stopped Turning," I feel balls..., "Calico Skies," "Children Will Listen." With music director Vadim Feichtner on piano.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
(Sony - new on CD/digital/2-LP vinyl)
New musical currently playing at London's Fortune Theatre. Book/music/lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts. Cast includes David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, Zoë Roberts, Geri Allen, Christian Andrews, Seán Carey, and Holly Sumpton. Produced by Steve Sidwell.

Sophie Sucks Face
(new digital album)
Original cast album for Sophie Zucker's one-woman musical. Produced by James Lambros a.k.a. Jimmy Lit. Played Soho Playhouse in November 2022. Released 5/10/23.

May 9, 2023

Farah Alvin: On Vinyl
(new on CD/digital)
Broadway actress-singer Farah Alvin album based on her solo shows "On Vinyl" and "B-side." "Help Me," "Take Me To The Pilot," "Easy," "Stairway To Heaven / Crazy On You," "If I Were Your Woman," "Wichita Lineman," "Don't Stop Me Now / Heartbreaker," "You're So Vain / You're No Good / It's Too Late," "Poetry Man," "Solitaire," "As." Arrangements and music direction by Michael Holland. Directed by Marc Tumminelli. To be released 5/11/23 in digital.

I Could Go On Singing
(Sandpiper Pictures - new Blu-ray)
1963 music-drama film. Directed by Ronald Neame. Stars Judy Garland and Dirk Bogarde, Jack Klugman, Gregory Phillips. Music by Mort Lindsey. Includes "I Am the Monarch of the Sea" by Gilbert and Sullivan; "Hello Bluebird" by Cliff Friend; "It Never Was You" by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson; "By Myself" by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz; "I Could Go On Singing" by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg.

Kerry Ellis: Kings & Queens
(Westway Music - new digital)
British singer/songwriter/actress Kelly Ellis (Wicked). "Kings & Queens," "Be Tender with Me Baby," "Battlefield" (with Sir Brian May), "I Will Find You," "Mean the World To Me" (with Newton Faulkner), "Big Wide World," "The Only One," "Fire & Rain," "Lemonade," "My All," "Love Wins," "Home Again." Recorded in LA and London. Produced by Mike Stevens. CD format to be released 5/19/23.

KPOP OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
2022 original Broadway cast. Music, lyrics, and arrangements by Helen Park, and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. Featuring K-pop group f(x) - Luna, Julia Abueva, BoHyung (from K-pop group SPICA and half of the duo KEEMBO), Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Marina Kondo, Eddy Lee, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Min (from K-pop group Miss A), Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Kevin Woo (from K-pop group U-KISS), and John Yi. Produced by Harvey Mason Jr.

KPOP OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new digital)
2022 original Broadway cast. Music, lyrics, and arrangements by Helen Park, and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. Featuring K-pop group f(x) - Luna, Julia Abueva, BoHyung (from K-pop group SPICA and half of the duo KEEMBO), Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Marina Kondo, Eddy Lee, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Min (from K-pop group Miss A), Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Kevin Woo (from K-pop group U-KISS), and John Yi. Produced by Harvey Mason Jr. CD format to be released 5/12/23.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
(Sony - new digital album)
New musical currently playing at London's Fortune Theatre. Book/music/lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoë Roberts. Cast includes David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, Zoë Roberts, Geri Allen, Christian Andrews, Seán Carey, and Holly Sumpton. Produced by Steve Sidwell. CD and vinyl to be released 5/19/23.

Schmigadoon! Season 2
(new digital album)
Soundtrack from season two fo the Apple TV+ original series. Cinco Paul, Tituss Burgess, Ericka Hunter, Justine Louise Gera, Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Cecily Strong, Dove Cameron, Airana DeBose, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Delleva, Alex Gullason, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Jane Krakowski, Ann Harada, Jaime Camil, Leggett Chase, Leah Horowitz, Phoenix Best, Cassondra James Kellam. Released 5/3/23.

May 2, 2023

Chip Deffaa's Broadway and Vaudeville Legends
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/digital)
Twenty-six rare performances from Chip Deffaa's collection, including some never before released on CD, by such early-20th century Broadway and vaudeville stars as Al Jolson, Fanny Brice, George M. Cohan, Nora Bayes, Jack Norworth, Bert Williams, Sophie Tucker, Irving Berlin, Harry Lauder, Ted Lewis, Elsie Janis, Will Rogers. Audio restoration by Scott Gordon. Graphic design by Frank Dain. Expected to ship in the second week of May.

Funny Girl
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - double vinyl album)
New Broadway cast recording. Based on 2022 revival, with some replacements. Lea Michele, Tovah Feldshuh, Ramin Karimloo, Toni DiBuono, Debra Cadona, Martin Moran, Jared Grimes, Kurt Csolak, Justin Prescott, Daniel Beeman. "Overture," "Who Are You Now?," "If a Girl Isn't Pretty," "I'm the Greatest Star," "Eddie's Tap," "Cornet Man," "His Love Makes Me Beautiful," "I Want to Be Seen with You," "Henry Street," "People," "You Are Woman, I Am Man," "Don't Rain on My Parade," "Sadie, Sadie," "Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?," "Temporary Arrangement," "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat," "Who Are You Now? (Reprise)," "You're a Funny Girl / Beekman Call," "What Do Happy People Do?," "The Music That Makes Me Dance," "Dream Ballet," "Finale Act 2."

Gays on Broadway
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Ethan Mordden. Chronological review of the long journey to bring the culture of gay men and women onto the American stage. From the genteel female impersonators of the 1910s to the raucous drag queens of La Cage aux Folles, from the men of The Normal Heart to the women of Fun Home, and from Eva Le Gallienne and Tallulah Bankhead to Tennessee Williams and Nathan Lane .. chronicles the plays and people that brought gay culture to Broadway. 240 pages.

My Heart Says Go
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. Javier Muñoz and Jessie Mueller, with Rubén J. Carbajal, Erica Ito, Aurelia Williams, Jared Goldsmith, John Cardoza, Mili Diaz, Cailen Fu and Eric Peters.

Parade
(Interscope Records - on CD)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Jason Brown score. Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, with Florrie Bagel, Kelli Barrett, Courtnee Carter, Eddie Cooper, Emily Rose DeMartino, Erin Rose Doyle, Manoel Felciano, Alex Joseph Grayson, Danielle Lee Greaves, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Beth Kirkpatrick, Sean Allan Krill, Douglas Lyons, Ashlyn Maddox, Sophia Manicone, Howard McGillin, William Michals, Paul Alexander Nolan, Jake Pedersen, Jackson Teeley, Charlie Webb. "Prologue: The Old Red Hills of Home," "The Dream of Atlanta," "How Can I Call This Home?," "The Picture Show," "Leo at Work / What Am I Waiting For?," "Interrogation Sequence," "Funeral Sequence: There is a Fountain / It Don't Make Sense," "Real Big News," "You Don't Know This Man," "The Trial: Hammer of Justice," "Twenty Miles from Marietta," "The Factory Girls / Come Up to My Office," "Minnie's Testimony," "My Child Will Forgive Me," "That's What He Said," "It's Hard to Speak My Heart," "Closing Statement & Verdict," "Act Two Prelude," "A Rumblin' and a Rollin'," "Do It Alone," "Pretty Music," "The Glory," "This Is Not Over Yet," "Blues: Feel the Rain Fall," "Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes?," "All the Wasted Time," "Sh'ma," "Finale." Released 3/23/23.

Ramin Karimloo: The Road To Find Out - West
(Westway Music - new EP)
Final part of Ramin Karimloo's quartet of "The Road To Find Out" bluegrass EPs. "Bring Him Home," "Hushabye Mountain," and "Feed The Birds." Produced in London by Ben Robbins at Umbrella Studios.

Shucked
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
Original Broadway cast recording of score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. Cast includes John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Grey Henson, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley, and Alex Newell. CD format to be released June 9.

April 25, 2023

Barbra Streisand: the Music, the Albums, the Singles
(Fayetteville Mafia Press - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Matt Howe. Foreword by Jay Landers. Covering the extensive recording career of Barbra Streisand - every album, soundtrack, and single Streisand has released. 304 pages.

Carmen Cusack: Lay Your Hands on Me
(new on CD/digital)
Solo album of original songs. "Show Me a Man," "Shane," "Did the Best I Could," "Rebellious Child," "When This Is Over," "Happy," "I'll Never Get Over You," "Sorry." In collaboration with Joe Jung.

Chita: A Memoir
(HarperOne - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Memoir by Chita Rivera, with Patrick Pacheco. "Chita invites us into workrooms and rehearsal studies, on stage and on set as she works with some of the greatest talents of the age, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gwen Verdon, Shirley MacLaine, and many others. We also learn deeply moving, revelatory details about her upbringing and her heritage, and how they indelibly shaped her work and career." Audible version narrated by Chita Rivera. 272 pages.

From Craft to Career: A Casting Director’s Guide for the Actor
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback
By Merri Sugarman and Tracy Moss. Insight into the role of the casting director. Explains the jobs of all the other people involved in the casting process and how they influence casting decisions. 176 pages. Kindle Edition released earlier.

The Great British Bake Off Musical OLC
(Masterworks - new digital album)
Score by Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics) and Jake Brunger (lyrics). John Owen-Jones, Scott Paige, Claire Moore, Charlotte Wakefield, Damian Humbley, Jay Saighal, Michael Cahill and Aharon Rayner. "The Bake Off Tent," "Obviously," "Somewhere In The Dough," "Grow," "The Handshake Song," "My Dad," "The Perfect Petit Fours," "Babs' Lament."

Rickie Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure
(BMG Modern - new digital album)
Singer-songwriter's 15th album. "Just in Time," "Nature Boy," "September Song," "Here's That Rainy Day, "All the Way," "There Will Never Be Another You," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "It's All in the Game," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)." Rob Mounsey on piano, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist David Wong and drummer Mark McLean. Produced by Russ Titelman.

Some Like It Hot: Vocal Selections from the New Musical Comedy
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. 17 songs from the show arranged with vocal line and piano accompaniment. Titles include: "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee," "Baby, Let's Get Good," "A Darker Shade of Blue," "Fly, Mariposa, Fly," "He Lied When He Said Hello," "I'm California Bound," "Let's Be Bad," "Let's Dance the World Away," "Poor Little Millionaire," "Ride Out the Storm," "Some like It Hot," "Take It up a Step," "Vamp!," "What Are You Thirsty For?," "You Can't Have Me (If You Don't Have Him)," "You Coulda Knocked Me over with a Feather," "Zee Bap." 144 pages.

April 18, 2023

The ABCs of Acting in Musicals: A Civilian's Guide
(new Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller. Second in a series. Includes a brief history of musicals, a brief survey of acting methods, myths about musicals and about acting, useful musical theatre terms, good books and documentaries, plus a wide array of other related topics, like using silence and stillness, the Fourth Wall, realism and naturalism, playing funny, playing sexy, acting traps, audition tips, the nature of “reality” onstage, and lots more. 80 pages.

Almost Famous
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new album)
Score by Tom Kitt. Chris Wood, Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Casey Likes, Rob Colletti, Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee.

High, Wide and Handsome
(Kino Lorber - new Blu-ray)
1937 Paramount musical western film. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Alan Hale, Sr., Charles Bickford and Dorothy Lamour. Written by Oscar Hammerstein II and George O'Neil, with lyrics by Hammerstein and music by Jerome Kern. Brand new HD master - from a 4k scan by universal pictures; new audio commentary by film historian Eddy von Mueller; theatrical trailer (newly mastered in 2K); optional English subtitles. One hour 44 minutes.

John Pizzarelli: Stage & Screen
(Palmetto - new on CD/digital)
"Too Close For Comfort," "I Love Betsy," "I Want To Be Happy," "Tea For Two," "Just In Time," "Some Other Time," "Where Or When," "Oklahoma Suite," "Time After Time," "You're All The World To Me," "As Time Goes By," "Coffee In A Cardboard Cup."

April 11, 2023

Ben Bagley's Vernon Duke Revisited Volume III
(Kritzerland - new on CD)
Music by Vernon Duke. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn, Howard Dietz, Ira Gershwin, E.Y. Harburg and E. Hartman, John Latouche, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, and Harold Rome. Tammy Grimes, Dorothy Loudon, Kaye Ballard, Mary Cleere Haran, Ann Hampton Callaway, Sandy Stewart, Arthur Siegel, and more. Remastered. Cover art by Harvey Schmidt. Arrangements and musical direction by Dennis Deal, Richard Rodney Bennett, and Robert Marks. 25 tracks. Limited to 500 copies. Expected to ship by second week in April 2023. Kritzerland.com. Approximate release date.

Chip Deffaa's the George M. Cohan Revue: The Cast Album
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/digital)
More than 40 songs–both famous and rare–by the father of the America musical, George M. Cohan. Jon Peterson heads the original New York cast, including Joan Jaffe, Dawne Swearingen, Michael Townsend Wright, Seth Sikes, David Warren, Cathy Remmert, Lynelle Johnson Steffan, with musicians Michael Lavine, Sterling Price-McKinney, Richard Danley.

Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical
(Brainstorm Records / Yellow Sound Label / 35th Parallel Productions - new EP)
Studio highlights cast recording of score by Lisette Glodowski and Richard C. Walter. Victoria Frings, Kevin Massey, Paolo Montalban, Kai An Chee, Tim Rogan, Rachael Worthington, Nick Laughlin, Steve Blanchard, Neil Young, Erin McMillen, and Eric Sorrels. 13-piece orchestra conducted by Kenneth Gartman. Orchestrations and arrangements by Frank Galgano and Matt Castle. Produced by Frank Galgano and Michael Croiter. Six tracks.

The Magnificent Seven
(new digital album)
Score by Julia Meinwald (music) and Gordon Leary (lyrics). The show about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Was produced at Theatre Row in July 2022. "Welcome to my House," "Back in '92," "Always Almost," "USA," "Like Mary Lou," "Hero," "You Cant' Let it Show," "I'm you Girl," "A Million Other Things," "My Body is," "36 hours to Atlanta," "You Can Do It," "For More Years," "Not for you," "Mary Lou," "The Perfect Ten," "The Beginning," "The Vault."

Room
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Play by Emma Donoghue. This updated and revised edition was published to coincide with the Broadway premiere in Spring 2023, which has been cancelled, so publishing may change. 96 pages. [A 2017 version is available on Amazon in Kindle format.]

Theatre Spaces 1920-2020: Finding the Fun in Functionalism
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Iain Mackintosh. Foreword by Richard Eyre. Lavishly illustrated hands-on account of the creation of new theatre spaces spanning a century. A compelling history that is part memoir, part impassioned call to rethink the design of our theatre spaces and the future of live theatre. 256 pages.

True West: Sam Shepard's Life, Work, and Times
(Crown - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Robert Greenfield. Delves deeply into Shepard's life as well as the ways in which his work illuminates it. Takes readers through the world of downtown theater in Lower Manhattan in the early sixties; the jazz scene at New York's Village Gate; fringe theater in London in the seventies; Bob Dylan's legendary Rolling Thunder tour; the making of classic films Broadway productions. Greenfield interviewed dozens of people who knew Shepard well, many of whom had never before spoken on the record about him. While exploring his relationships with Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Jessica Lange across the long arc of his brilliant career, Greenfield makes the case for Shepard as not just a great American writer but a unique figure who first brought the sensibility of rock 'n roll to theater. Audiobook version narrated by Jon Lindstrom. 448 pages.

April 4, 2023

Around the Globe: Behind the Scenes at Shakespeare's Theatre
(Cultureshock - Paperback Book)
Ed Behrens, editor. A unique view of the theater's backstage life, props, wardrobe collections and rehearsal spaces through unprecedented access to life behind the scenes. All captured by Angela Moore's photographs. 200 pages.

Blanche: The Life and Times of Tennessee Williams's Greatest Creation
(Harper - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By Nancy Schoenberger. An exploration of the cultural impact of Blanche DuBois, examining Tennessee Williams's most enduring creation through the performances of seven brilliant actresses who have taken on the role: Jessica Tandy, Vivien Leigh, Ann-Margret, Jessica Lange, Patricia Clarkson, Cate Blanchett, and Jemier Jackson. Exploring themes of womanhood, sexuality, mental illness, and the idealized South, Blanche is an engrossing cultural history of a rich and complex character that sheds light on who we are. Photographs. 240 pages.

Cabaret 2021 West End cast
(Decca UK - double vinyl LP)
Score by John Kander and Fred Ebb. Eddie Redmayne, Jessie Buckley, Anna-Jane Casey, Stewart Clarke, Omari Douglas, Sally Frith, Elliot Levey, Liza Sadovy, Sophie Maria Wojna. "Willkommen," "So What?," "Don't Tell Mama," "Mein Herr," "Perfectly Marvelous," "Two Ladies," "It Couldn't Please Me More," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "Maybe This Time," "Money," "Married," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise)," "Kickline," "If You Could See Her," "What Would You Do?," "I Don't Care Much," "Cabaret," "Finale." Released earlier on CD.

The Great American Songbook: 201 Favorites You Ought to Know (& Love)
(Backbeat - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Steven Suskin. Foreword by John Pizzarelli. Surveys 201 of the most significant selections from the Great American Songbook, ranging from celebrated masterpieces to forgotten gems. Year by year, Suskin puts songwriters and their contributions in their context, and explains what makes each song such a distinctive treat - whether felicitous melody, colorful harmony, compositional originality, or merely the sheer, irreducible joy of listening to it. 200 black & white and 96 full-color illustrations. 296 pages.

Up Here
(new digital album)
Soundtrack from new Hulu series. Original songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Cast includes Sophia Hammons, Andréa Burns, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Scott Porter, Katie Finneran, Norm Lewis.

March 28, 2023

Cornelia Street
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Musical by Simon Stephens (book) and Mark Eitzel (music and lyrics). This edition is to be published to coincide with the off-Broadway premiere at New York's Atlantic Theater, in February 2023. 112 pages.

A Fine Romance: Adapting Broadway to Hollywood in the Studio System Era
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Geoffrey Block. Beginning with the stage debut of Show Boat in 1927 and concluding with the release the Cabaret filmed nearly a half century later in 1972. Explores the symbiotic relationship between a dozen Broadway musicals and their Hollywood film adaptations. Engages with aesthetic and critical concerns while also considering the social issues around Broadway and Hollywood film through the lenses of race and ethnicity, class, gender, and sexual identity. 368 pages.

March 21, 2023

Adventures in Reality
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Collection of Michael Friedman songs mostly created for various Civilians shows and cabarets, with lyrics taken from verbatim transcripts of interviews. The album also includes Michael's collaboration with playwright John Guare in a song about Chekhov's Three Sisters with lyrics written by Guare. Nick Blaemire, Cindy Cheung, Carla Duren, Jackie Hoffman, Jo Lampert, Lauren Molina, Dito van Reigersberg, Brian Charles Rooney, Heath Saunders, Mary Testa, Tony Torn, Alison Weller, and Ada Westfall.

Canard, Canard, Goose?
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Michael Friedman score from the first Civilians show, in 2001, and Friedman's first full-length musical. Cast includes Andrew Kober, Grace McLean , Jonathan Raviv, Maya Sharpe, Kristin Stokes, and Colleen Werthmann.

In the Footprint: The Battle for the Atlantic Yards
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Michael Friedman score from 2011 show. Cast includes Andrew Kober, Grace McLean, Onyie Nwachukwu, Jonathan Raviv, Maya Sharpe, Kristin Stokes, Akron Watson, and Colleen Werthmann.

Into the Woods
(Concord Theatricals/Craft Recordings - new 2-disc vinyl album)
Recording of the 2022 Broadway / New York City Center Encores! cast. Score by Stephen Sondheim. Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller, Phillipa Soo, Joshua Henry, Aymee Garcia, Ta'Nika Gibson, Annie Golden, Albert Guerzon, Brooke Ishibashi, Kennedy Kanagawa, David Patrick Kelly, Julia Lester, Nancy Opel, Cole Thompson, David Turner, Alysia Velez. "Prologue: Into the Woods," "Cinderella at the Grave," "Hello, Little Girl," "I Guess This Is Goodbye," "Maybe They're Magic," "I Know Things Now," "A Very Nice Prince," "First Midnight," "Giants in the Sky," "Agony," "It Takes Two," "Second Midnight," "Stay with Me," "On the Steps of the Palace," "Ever After," "Prologue: So Happy," "Agony (Reprise)," "Witch's Lament," "Any Moment," "Moments in the Woods," "Your Fault," "Last Midnight," "No More," "No One Is Alone," "Finale: Children Will Listen." Music direction by Rob Berman with The Encores! Orchestra. CD format expected later. Digital released 9/30/22, CD released 12/2/22.

Maggie
(new album)
Studio recording of score by Johnny Reid, Matt Murray and Bob Foster. The musical is set to debut at Theatre Aquarius in Ontario, Canada, in April 2023.

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Music by Michael Friedman, lyrics by Anne Washburn and Michael Friedman. Cast includes Gibson Frazier, Rebecca Hart , Matthew Maher, Jennifer R. Morris, Maya Sharpe, Christina Sajous, Kristin Stokes, and Sam Breslin Wright.

Parade
(Interscope Records - new digital album)
2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Jason Brown score. Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, with Florrie Bagel, Kelli Barrett, Courtnee Carter, Eddie Cooper, Emily Rose DeMartino, Erin Rose Doyle, Manoel Felciano, Alex Joseph Grayson, Danielle Lee Greaves, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Beth Kirkpatrick, Sean Allan Krill, Douglas Lyons, Ashlyn Maddox, Sophia Manicone, Howard McGillin, William Michals, Paul Alexander Nolan, Jake Pedersen, Jackson Teeley, Charlie Webb. "Prologue: The Old Red Hills of Home," "The Dream of Atlanta," "How Can I Call This Home?," "The Picture Show," "Leo at Work / What Am I Waiting For?," "Interrogation Sequence," "Funeral Sequence: There is a Fountain / It Don't Make Sense," "Real Big News," "You Don't Know This Man," "The Trial: Hammer of Justice," "Twenty Miles from Marietta," "The Factory Girls / Come Up to My Office," "Minnie's Testimony," "My Child Will Forgive Me," "That's What He Said," "It's Hard to Speak My Heart," "Closing Statement & Verdict," "Act Two Prelude," "A Rumblin' and a Rollin'," "Do It Alone," "Pretty Music," "The Glory," "This Is Not Over Yet," "Blues: Feel the Rain Fall," "Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes?," "All the Wasted Time," "Sh'ma," "Finale."

Some Like It Hot OBC
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - new digital album)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Marc Shaiman (music/lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics). Cast includes Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks, and Kevin Del Aguila. "What Are You Thirsty For?," "You Can't Have Me (If You Don't Have Him)," "Vamp!," "I'm California Bound," "A Darker Shade of Blue," "Take It Up a Step," "Zee Bap," "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee," "Poor Little Millionaire!," "Some Like It Hot," "Let's Be Bad," "Dance the World Away," "Fly, Mariposa, Fly," "You Coulda Knocked Me Over with a Feather," "He Lied When He Said Hello," "Ride Out the Storm," "Baby, Let's Get Good." Produced by Scott M. Riesett and Marc Shaiman. CD version expected at a future date.

The Year After: A Song Cycle
(No Hope Productions - new digital album)
Cast recording of a song cycle by Tim Aumiller and Scott Schneider. Brittneyann Accetta, Krystina Alabado, Michael Lee Brown, Max Crumm, Dayna Dantzler, Deon'te Goodman, Nathan Lee Graham,, Jason Moody, Shanna Sharp.

March 14, 2023

Anna Ziegler Plays Two: The Great Moment; Another Way Home; The Wanderers; Actually
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Collection of play by Anna Ziegler. The Wanderers (opening February 2022 for Roundabout Theatre Company), The Great Moment, Another Way Home, Actually. 224 pages.

Anything Goes
(Liberator - new DVD/Blu-ray)
Filmed live at the Barbican in London. Score by Cole Porter. Directed by Kathleen Marshall. Sutton Foster, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot. Two hours and 19 minutes.

Careful the Spell You Cast: How Stephen Sondheim Extended the Range of the American Musical
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Ben Francis (Oxford Handbook of Sondheim Studies). "... argues that Sondheim firmly belongs to the Broadway aspirational tradition, in that many of his characters are defined by their dreams: to abandon one's dream (as Ben does in Follies, Frank does in Merrily We Roll Along, and Addison does in Road Show) is to lose one's soul. 192 pages.

Diva 2.0 12 Life Lessons From Me For You
(Wordee - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Sheryl Lee Ralph. The author uses her life story to empower and encourage anyone seeking to find and live their best life with beauty, dignity and a grace that radiates from within. 172 pages.

I Do! I Do! OLC
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
Part of Stage Door Records' Cast Album Masters Series. Score by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Opened at London's Lyric Theatre on May 16, 1968, directed by Gower Champion with leads Anne Rogers and Ian Carmichael. Original album produced by Norman Newell. Includes bonus tracks from both artists and detailed sleeve notes by Stewart Nicholls including exclusive contributions from Anne Rogers. Digitally remastered from the original studio master tapes. 17 original tracks plus eight bonus tracks. Strictly limited to 500 units only. Now in stock at StageDoorRecords.com.

John & Jen
(Liberator Films - new on DVD)
2012 movie based on the Andrew Lippa/Tom Greenwald musical. Rachel Tucker and Lewis Cornay. Directed by Guy Retallack / Austin Shaw. One hour 40 minutes.

Lady Bess
(Hitsquad Records - new double-CD/digital album)
Original Swiss cast recording of the score by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay. In German. Produced at St. Gallen Theatre in Switzerland in February 2023. Released 2/24/23.

Master of the House: The Theatres of Cameron Mackintosh
(Unicorn Publishing Group - Hardcover Book)
Michael Coveney. Charts the histories of Cameron Mackintosh's eight refurbished and rebuilt iconic London buildings: their origins, their stories, the iconic shows and productions, the stars and the glamour. Lavishly illustrated with images from the Delfont Mackintosh archive, also contains original architect plans and drawings, specially commissioned photographs of the refurbishment, show posters and other theatre ephemera, and many sweeping panoramas of the exquisitely finished spaces. 320 pages.

Regretting Almost Everything
(new album)
Concept album for new musical score by Danny Ursetti and Lauren Taslitz. Beth Leavel and Jeff Blumenkrantz. 15 songs plus one bonus track. Musical director and pianist Paul Staroba conducts and performs with an 8-piece orchestra of string quartet and rhythm section. Recorded at Power Station at BerkleeNYC, produced by Kathy Sommer and Matt Anthony (Alchemy Music), and mastered by Darcy Proper. 15 songs +1 bonus track.

March 7, 2023

Musical Theatre For Dummies
(For Dummies - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Seth Rudetsky. For those new to musical theatre. History of musical theater and shows born on Broadway or the West End that became cultural phenomena; development of productions, from the idea stage all the way through opening night and beyond; insights into how theater is made; insider advice on the skills you need to perform in professional or amateur musical theater productions; anecdotes and show recommendations. 384 pages.

February 28, 2023

American Dramatists in the 21st Century: Opening Doors
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover book/Kindle Edition)
By Christopher Bigsby. Examines the careers of seven award-winning playwrights: David Adjmi, Julia Cho, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Will Eno, Martyna Majok, Dominique Morisseau and Anna Ziegler. Covering all their plays, including several as yet unpublished, nothing their critical reception while drawing on their own commentary on their approach to writing and the business of developing a career. 256 pages.

Standing at the Sky's Edge: A New Musical Original
(Universal UK - new on CD/digital)
Original live cast recording of Richard Hawley score. Played at National Theatre.

The Wanderers
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Anna Ziegler play opening next month at Roundabout Theatre Company. 80 pages.

February 21, 2023

"Boundaries"
(Yellow Sound Label/Ghostlight Records - new digital single)
Jennifer Hudson sings song from A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson. Released 2/15/23.

Mary Foster Conklin: Precious Days
(Mock Turtle Music - new digital album)
Mary Foster Conklin's fifth album. Features mostly women writers in a mix of lesser-known jazz and pop tunes. "Summertime" (Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson), "Some Cats Know," "Just a Little Lovin," "Come in From the Rain," "Scars," "Just for Now," "A Little White Ship," "Heart's Desire," "Rainbow," "Until It's Time for You to Go," "September Song." With pianist John Di Martino, who also wrote arrangements, violinist Sara Caswell, bassist Ed Howard, drummer Vince Cherico, guitarist Guilherme Monteiro, and percussionist Samuel Torres.

Somewhere
(new digital album)
Original cast recording of score from new musical written by Sarah Bishop with music and lyrics by The Dunwells. World premiere in 2022 at Guiseley Theatre, Leeds. Released 2/5/23.

February 14, 2023

The Abbott Touch: Pal Joey, Damn Yankees, and the Theatre of George Abbott
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas Hischak. In-depth and original study of actor, playwright, director, librettist, play doctor, and producer George Abbott, examining 100 productions. Each chapter examines a period of creativity in his life. 272 pages.

Alice Faye & Co-Stars: The 20th Century Fox Years Volume 2: 1940-1945
(Sepia Records - new on 2 CDs)
Vol. 2 of rare recordings from Alice Faye movies never commercially released. Remastered from studio discs, and including songs performed by her co-stars such as Don Ameche, Betty Grable, John Payne and the Carmen Miranda. 63 tracks. Released 12/14/22.

Betty Grable: The 20th Century Fox Years Volume 2: 1945-1948
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Rare recordings from Betty Grable 1940s movie musicals never commercially released before. Remastered from studio discs, and including songs performed by her co-stars such as June Haver, John Payne, Dick Haymes and Dan Dailey. 51 tracks. Released

Broadway Bodies: A Critical History of Conformity
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover book/Paperback Book)
By Ryan Donovan. Explores how ability, sexuality, and size intersect with gender, race, and ethnicity in casting and performance. Asks/answers "Why did A Chorus Line, a show that sought to individuate dancers, inevitably make them indistinguishable? How does the use of fat suits in musicals like Dreamgirls and Hairspray stigmatize fatness? What were the political implications of casting two straight actors as the gay couple in La Cage aux Folles in 1983? How did deaf actors change the sound of musicals in Deaf West Theatre's Broadway revivals? Whose bodies does Broadway cast and whose does it cast aside?" 336 pages.

Baby
(Yellow Sound Label - new digital album)
New Off-Broadway Out of the Box Theatrics cast recording of score by David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr. Also features never-before-recorded material (including "Patterns"). Christina Sajous, Gabrielle McClinton, Julia Murney, Robert H. Fowler, Elizabeth Flemming, and Johnny Link with Jorge Donoso, Marisa Kirby, Jewell Noel, and Ethan Paulini. Produced by Michael Croiter, Richard Maltby, Jr., and Geoffrey Ko, who also serves as music supervisor.

Eric Goletz: Standard-ized
(new digital album)
Trombonist Eric Goletz e-imagines modern jazz standards. With Henry Heinitsh (guitar), Jim Ridl (piano), Brian Glassman (acoustic and electric bass), Marco Panascia (electric bass), Steve Johns (drums), and Joe Mowatt (percussion), plus saxophonist Don Braden and vocalist Lajuan Carter. "Now's the Time," "Just in Time," "Caravan," "Nutville," "Nature Boy," "Train Shuffle," "Jungle Juice," "Mayreh," "The Summer Knows," "Summertime," "Sugar," "Windmills of Your Mind," "Overjoyed," "Now's the Time (outro)."

Kimberly Akimbo
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
2022 original Broadway cast recording of score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire. Victoria Clark, Steven Boyer, Justin Cooley, Alli Mauzey, Bonnie Milligan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan, Michael Iskander, Nina White. "Skater Planet," "Hello, Darling," "Make a Wish," "Anagram," "Better," "Father Time," "Happy for Her," "This Time," "How to Wash a Check," "Good Kid," "Hello, Baby," "Skater Planet (Reprise)," "Our Disease," "The Inevitable Turn," "Now," "How to Wash a Check (Reprise)," "Before I Go," "Hello, Sister," "Great Adventure." GhostlightRecords.com. Two released tracks can be listened to on this page.

The Taylor Mac Book: Ritual, Realness and Radical Performance
(Univ of Michigan Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
David Román and Sean Edgecomb, editors. "Featuring essays, interviews, and commentaries by noted critics and artists, the volume examines the vastness of Mac's theatrical imagination, the singularity of their voice, the inclusiveness of their cultural insights and critiques, and the creativity they display through stylistic and formal qualities and the unorthodoxies of their personal and professional trajectories. Contributors consider the range of Mac's career as a playwright, performer, actor, and singer, expanding and enriching the conversation on this much-celebrated and deeply resonant body of work." 304 pages.

Up With the Sun: A Novel
(Knopf - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Thomas Mallon. Novel that fictionalizes the career and tabloid murder of Broadway and TV actor Dick Kallman. "Re-creates the brassy, sometimes brutal world that shaped Kallman, capturing his collisions with not only Lucille Ball, but an array of stars from Sophie Tucker to Judy Garland and Johnny Carson. Part crime story, part showbiz history, and part love story ... that spans thirty years of gay life - the whole tumultuous era from the Kinsey Report through Stonewall and, finally, AIDS." 352 pages.

February 7, 2023

Ann Hampton Callaway: Fever - A Peggy Lee Celebration!
(Palmetto - new on CD/digital)
"Fever," "Till There Was You," "The Glory of Love," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," "Sing a Rainbow," "I Don't Know Enough About You," "Clair de Lune," "Black Coffee," "I Love Being Here With You," "Johnny Guitar," "Where Can I Go Without You," "This is A Very Special Day/It's a Good Day," "Angels on Your Pillow."

The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir
(W.W. Norton & Company - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Priscilla Gilman, daughter of writer, theater critic, and Yale School of Drama professor Richard Gilman. 304 pages.

Indie Theater Guy
(new Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Martin Denton. Story of Denton's nytheatre.com website, which began in 1997. A journey of one man remaking himself, following his heart and his passion, and along the way helping to forge a new and stronger identity for the indie theater community that he loved.

When Broadway Was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical that Changed the World
(Sourcebooks - Paperback Book)
By Caseen Gaines. In-depth look into the rise of the 1921 Broadway hit, Shuffle Along, the first all-Black musical to succeed on Broadway, with a score by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake. Book by F. E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles. The story of how Sissle and Blake, along with comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, overcame poverty, racism, and violence to harness the energy of the Harlem Renaissance. 512 pages.

January 31, 2023

Jim Snidero: Far Far Away
(Savant - new on CD/digial)
Jim Snidero (saxophone), Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Orrin Evans (piano), Peter Washington (bass), and Joe Farnsworth (drums). Instrumentals. "Far Far Away," "Infinity," "It Might as Well Be Spring," "Nowhere to Hide," "Obsession," "Pat," "Search for Peace," "Little Falls."

Try Not to Hold It Against Me
(Beaufort Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Memoir by motion picture, television, and Broadway producer Julian Schlossberg. Foreword by Elaine May. 374 pages.

Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical
(Yale Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Laurie Winer. "Diving deep into Hammerstein's life, examining his papers and his lyrics, critic Laurie Winer shows how he orchestrated a collective reimagining of America, urging it forward with a subtly progressive vision of the relationship between country and city, rich and poor, America and the rest of the world. His rejection of bitterness, his openness to strangers, and his optimistic humor shaped not only the musical but the American dream itself. His vision can continue to be a touchstone to this day." 368 pages.

Stirrings Still
(Arthur Circle Music - new album)
Duets for voice and guitar. Eric Hoffman and Ken Hatfield. Vinyl version to be released June 2023. "See You Tomorrow (À Demain)," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "Stirrings Still," "Down Here on the Ground," "Juniper Street," "You Can Never Hold Back Spring," "Most Every Day," "Answer Me, My Love," "Lonely Nocturne," "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home," "The Time I Spend with You." Released 1/24/23.

January 24, 2023

The Big One-Oh! (Ultimate Cast Recording)
(Broadway Records - new album)
Score by Doug Besterman (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics) for the musical based on the novel of the same name by Pitchford. (Book for the musical is by Timothy Allen McDonald.) Cast includes Christian Borle, Derek Klena, Patti Murin, Brittney Mack, Michael James Scott, Jaxon Daniel and Emmy Woodard. The show appeared at Atlantic for Kids in 2019.

Cabaret 2021 West End cast
(Decca UK - new on CD)
Score by John Kander and Fred Ebb. Eddie Redmayne, Jessie Buckley, Anna-Jane Casey, Stewart Clarke, Omari Douglas, Sally Frith, Elliot Levey, Liza Sadovy, Sophie Maria Wojna. "Willkommen," "So What?," "Don't Tell Mama," "Mein Herr," "Perfectly Marvelous," "Two Ladies," "It Couldn't Please Me More," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "Maybe This Time," "Money," "Married," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise)," "Kickline," "If You Could See Her," "What Would You Do?," "I Don't Care Much," "Cabaret," "Finale." Previously released in the U.K.

Cryer & Ford: Hidden Treasures 1967-2020
(Harbinger Records / Musical Theater Project - 3-CD set/digital)
Tribute to the writing team of Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford. One or several cuts from many of their musicals, plus the complete scores of Shelter, the sequel Still Getting My Act Together and Eleanor. More than 30 vocalists, including Karen Ziemba, Gregg Edelman, Austin Pendleton, Marcia Rodd, Heather Mac Rae, David Cryer, Jeff Kready, and Gretchen Cryer herself. Produced by Mark Logies and Bill Rudman. Liner notes by Cryer & Ford. Foreword by Austin Pendleton. 66 tracks. 56-page booklet.

Epic: The Cyclops Saga
(BRP Records - new digital album)
Second of nine concept albums by Jorge Rivera-Herrans based on Homer's The Odyssey. Sung-through musical. Cast includes Teagan Earley, Steven Dookie, Armando Julián, and Jorge Rivera-Herrans plus ensemble.

He Never Did Anything Twice: Deconstructing Stephen Sondheim: Deconstructing Stephen Sondheim
(new Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller (New Line Theatre). Journey through sixteen Sondheim musicals, plus some brief stops at some of his other musical and non-musical projects over the years. 378 pages.

Into the Woods
(Concord Theatricals/Craft Recordings - new on CD)
Recording of the 2022 Broadway / New York City Center Encores! cast. Score by Stephen Sondheim. Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller, Phillipa Soo, Joshua Henry, Aymee Garcia, Ta'Nika Gibson, Annie Golden, Albert Guerzon, Brooke Ishibashi, Kennedy Kanagawa, David Patrick Kelly, Julia Lester, Nancy Opel, Cole Thompson, David Turner, Alysia Velez. "Prologue: Into the Woods," "Cinderella at the Grave," "Hello, Little Girl," "I Guess This Is Goodbye," "Maybe They're Magic," "I Know Things Now," "A Very Nice Prince," "First Midnight," "Giants in the Sky," "Agony," "It Takes Two," "Second Midnight," "Stay with Me," "On the Steps of the Palace," "Ever After," "Prologue: So Happy," "Agony (Reprise)," "Witch's Lament," "Any Moment," "Moments in the Woods," "Your Fault," "Last Midnight," "No More," "No One Is Alone," "Finale: Children Will Listen." Music direction by Rob Berman with The Encores! Orchestra. Digital released 9/30/22, vinyl will be released 3/17/23.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile soundtrack
(Island Records - new digital album)
Soundtrack from 2022 musical comedy film based on the works of Bernard Waber. Songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with other writers including Ari Afsar, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick, and Joriah Kwamé. Shawn Mendez, Pete Rodgriguez, Javier Bardem, Claire Rosinkranz, Stevie Wonder, Constance Wu, Anthony Ramos, and others. 15 tracks. Released 10/7/22. [Also released: an album of the film's musical score by Matthew Margeson.]

Lyle the Off-Broadway demos
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
1970 Off-Broadway musical by Janet Gari and Toby Garson, based on the book by Bernard Waber. Carleton Carpenter and Ted Thurston, Janet Gari, Toby Garson, and Arthur Siegel. 35 tracks. Produced and remastered by Brian Gari with Peter Millrose and Chip Fabrizi. Released 12/30/22.

MacGyver The Musical
(Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
World premiere album. Score by Peter Lurye. Taylor Louderman, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tristin Mays. Album produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr. BroadwayRecords.com.

January 17, 2023

I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us
(Harper Celebrate - new Hardcover/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Kristin Chenoweth. Features " ... philosophical-ish musings on connection, creativity, loss, love, faith, and closure." In each chapter: behind-the-scenes stories from Kristin's personal life; high-design, colorful pages of inspirational quotes; engaging prompts, prayers, and inspiring quotes. Bible verses and f-bombs. 224 pages.

Judy Garland - The Lost Vegas Show - New Frontier Hotel - July 16, 1956
(High Definition Tape Transfers - new album)
Previously unissued performance taped on opening night, also Garland's nightclub debut. Transferred by HDTT chief engineer Robert Witrak. High resolution format directly from the original tape. Offered in hi-def download formats DSD256, DSD128, DSD64, PCM Flac 24/352.8, PCM Flac 24/192, PCM Flac 24/96, as well as on regular CD. "A Hot Time in the Old Town," "This Is a Party," Dialog,"Judy'S Olio: You Made Me Love You/For Me and My Gal/The Boy Next Door/The Trolley Song," Dialog,"Come Rain or Come Shine," "This Is Our Spot," "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home," Dialog,"A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow," Dialog,"Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody," "What Next? What'll She Do Now?," "Lucky Day," "Interlude: The Trolley Song Orchestral," "Over the Rainbow," "Over the Rainbow Orchestral." Bonus Tracks: "Dialog, Introducing Encores," "Opening Notes of Liza." HighDefinitionTapeTransfers.ca

Voodoo Macbeth
(Lightyear Video - new on Blu-ray/DVD)
2021 film that chronicles the creation of the 1936 Federal Theatre Project the first all-Black cast production of Macbeth, adapted and directed by Orson Welles. Cast includes Inger Tudor, Jewell Wilson Bridges, June Schreiner. Bonuses: audio commentary; actual 1936 footage from National Archives of the play that toured the country.

January 10, 2023

Between The Lines
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album)
Original cast album, based on the recent new Off-Broadway production. Score by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. Arielle Jacobs, Jake David Smith, Vicki Lewis, Hillary Fisher, Jerusha Cavazos, Sean Stack, Will Burton, Julia Murney, John Rapson, Wren Rivera. "Another Chapter," "Between the Lines," "Happily Ever After Hour," "Talkin' to Oliver," "Mr. Darcy and Me," "Inner Thoughts," "Start Again Tomorrow," "In My Perfect World," "Crazy Chemistry," "Butterflies," "I'm Not Through," "A Whole New Story," "Best Day Ever," "Do It For You," "Something to Hold On To," "Leaps and Bounds," "Out of Character," "Allie McAndrews," "Can't Get 'Em Out," "Between the Lines (Reprise)," "Say It in Other Words," "Inner Thoughts (Reprise)." Produced by Michael Croiter and Greg Anthony Rassen. GhostlightRecords.com.

Renee Fleming: Her Greatest Moments at the MET
(Decca - new on 2 CDs)
First-ever, specially remastered collection. Duets with Cecilia Bartoli, Susan Graham, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Samuel Ramey, Bryn Terfel and more. 32 tracks.

January 3, 2023

The Routledge Companion to Musical Theatre (Routledge Companions)
(Routledge - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Laura MacDonald, Ryan Donovan, editors. Comprehensive guide expands the study of musical theatre to include the ways we practice and experience musicals, their engagement with technology, and their navigation of international commercial marketplaces. The first collection to include global musical theatre in each chapter, reflecting the musical's status as the world's most popular theatrical form. Brings together practice and scholarship, featuring essays by leading and emerging scholars alongside luminaries such as Chinese musical theatre composer San Bao, Tony Award-winning star André De Shields, and Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus. 602 pages.

January 6, 2023

Once: A New Musical
(Masterworks Broadway - new 2-disc vinyl set)
Score by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Stars Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti. 12-inch marigold-shaded vinyl including 12-inch insert.

West Side Story
(Masterworks Broadway - new 2-disc vinyl album)
1957 OBC album of Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim score. Cast includes Carol Lawrence, Larry Kert and Chita Rivera.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown original demo recordings and more
(Stage Door Records - new 2-CD set)
Score by Meredith Willson. Original demo recordings, including fully orchestrated studio demo album featuring Sandy Stewart and Bernie Knee alongside the Elliot Lawrence Orchestra and Chorus; selections from the score performed by Willson with his wife Rini and the show's original male lead Harve Presnell (several cut songs including "Read the Label on the Bottle," "One Day at a Time" and "Colorado, My Home"). Also, a bonus disc of cover recordings: a full length instrumental album performed by Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra (remastered from stereo reel tape), and a comprehensive selection of pop vocal cover recordings including songs performed by Aretha Franklin, Nat "King" Cole, Gordon MacRae, Dinah Shore, The Four Aces and more. Detailed sleeve notes by George Dansker. Limited edition release of 500 units only. StageDoorRecords.com.

-- Sound Advice Staff